By the Numbers: The Plaza Hotel

From the July issue: Since opening in 1907, the Plaza Hotel has served as the backdrop for movies, books and high-profile parties. In 1964, when a crowd of 4,000 screaming fans greeted the Beatles at John F. Kennedy International Airport for the band’s first American tour, the limos whisked them straight to the Plaza. The iconic property has, of course, also been a favorite for real estate investors. In the 1980s, Donald Trump, then a brash young developer and today the U.S. president, plunked down millions to buy the hotel. He ultimately handed over control of the property to his creditors in a complex deal to clear debt. But that was just a precursor to the problems the hotel has faced since. And while a significant chunk of the hotel has been converted into condos, the famous Oak Room has been dark since 2011, and the site is, by many accounts, underperforming. However, in late May, reports surfaced that Ashkenazy Acquisitions had bought a piece of Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal’s stake in the hotel with plans to buy out the web of stakeholders, including embattled Indian mogul Subrata Roy. Not surprisingly, all eyes will be watching as the duo tries to breathe new life into the 110-year-old institution.