Last Updated on July 31, 2026 by Daniel Globe
The Plaza Hotel at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South is one of New York City’s best-known luxury landmarks. Its ownership history is long and sometimes confusing because the company that owns the hotel is different from the brand that manages it, and the building also includes condominium residences.
Quick Answer
Katara Hospitality, a Qatar-based hotel owner and developer, owns The Plaza Hotel in New York City. It acquired full ownership in 2018. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts manages and operates the hotel, so Fairmont is the hotel brand and operator, not the real-estate owner.
Key Takeaways
- Current owner: Katara Hospitality.
- Acquisition year: 2018, when Katara added The Plaza to its hotel portfolio.
- Hotel operator: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, part of Accor.
- Donald Trump’s ownership: 1988 to 1995; he has no current ownership role.
- Landmark status: the exterior became a New York City landmark in 1969, selected interiors were designated in 2005, and the property became a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
History of the Plaza Hotel
The current Plaza Hotel opened on October 1, 1907. Architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh designed the French Renaissance-inspired building. According to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission’s designation report, Bernhard Beinecke and Harry S. Black bought the site in 1902 and developed the new hotel with financial backing from John W. Gates. Hotelier Frederic Sterry served as managing director.
This corrects a common error: Charles T. Yerkes did not commission the current Plaza Hotel. The project was developed through the Plaza Operating Company and its parent real-estate interests, not by Yerkes.
The hotel’s official history confirms that the new building opened after about 27 months of construction. Its public rooms, Central Park location, and château-like exterior soon made it a symbol of New York luxury. The Plaza later appeared in books and films, including F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
The Plaza opened on October 1, 1907, and has remained one of the most recognizable hotel buildings in New York City.
The Plaza’s landmark designations
The hotel did not become a National Historic Landmark in 1921. Its exterior was designated a New York City landmark in 1969, and the National Park Service lists its National Historic Landmark designation date as June 24, 1986. New York City designated major interior spaces—including the Palm Court, Oak Room, Terrace Room, and Grand Ballroom—in 2005.
Note: Landmark status does not freeze the building in time, but major changes to protected exterior or interior features are subject to preservation review and approval.
Previous Owners of the Plaza Hotel
The Plaza has passed through several ownership groups since 1907. The most important transitions are summarized below.
| Period | Owner or controlling group | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| 1907–1943 | Plaza Operating Company and related U.S. Realty interests | The current hotel opened in 1907; a major addition was completed in the early 1920s. |
| 1943–1953 | Atlas Corporation, affiliated with Conrad Hilton | Hilton-era work included changes to the Fifth Avenue Lobby, Palm Court, and Oak Bar. |
| 1953–1974 | A. M. Sonnabend and the Sonnabend family | The property underwent a major refurbishment in the 1960s. |
| 1974–1988 | Western International/Westin, followed by the Bass and Aoki interests | Westin invested heavily in restoring the hotel’s traditional appearance. |
| 1988–1995 | Donald Trump | Trump bought the hotel in 1988 and sold his controlling interest in 1995. |
| 1995–2004 | A partnership led by City Developments Limited and Prince Alwaleed bin Talal | Fairmont became closely associated with the property as hotel operator. |
| 2004–2012 | El Ad Properties | The building was renovated and converted into a mixed hotel-and-condominium property. |
| 2012–2018 | Sahara India Pariwar as majority owner, with minority investors | The ownership structure became the subject of sale negotiations and a right-of-first-refusal dispute. |
| 2018–present | Katara Hospitality | Katara acquired full ownership, while Fairmont continued to manage the hotel. |
Did Conrad Hilton buy The Plaza in 1919?
No. The 1919 date relates to an expansion and renovation period, not a Hilton purchase. The Atlas Corporation, which was affiliated with Conrad Hilton, acquired the hotel in 1943. Hilton’s ownership ended in 1953.
Did Donald Trump buy The Plaza in 1954?
No. Donald Trump bought The Plaza in 1988. He sold his controlling interest in 1995 to a partnership involving City Developments Limited and Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
Current Ownership of the Plaza Hotel
| Hotel owner | Katara Hospitality |
| Ownership acquired | 2018 |
| Hotel operator | Fairmont Hotels & Resorts |
| Property format | Mixed-use hotel and condominium building |
Reuters reported that Katara was acquiring full ownership in 2018. Katara Hospitality’s current portfolio lists the property as “The Plaza, A Fairmont Managed Hotel,” confirming the difference between ownership and operation.
Owner versus operator: what is the difference?
Katara Hospitality owns the hotel asset and is responsible for long-term investment and ownership decisions. Fairmont markets and operates The Plaza, handling the hotel brand, reservations, guest service, and day-to-day management under its agreement with the owner.
Pro Tip: When researching a hotel’s ownership, check both the owner’s property portfolio and the operator’s official hotel page. A hotel brand on the sign does not always own the building.
Do condominium owners own the hotel?
No. The Plaza’s mixed-use structure includes hotel accommodations and condominium residences. A person or company that owns an individual residence does not thereby own the hotel business or replace Katara Hospitality as the hotel owner.
Controversies and Legal Battles Surrounding the Plaza Hotel Ownership
The Plaza’s ownership history has included genuine disputes, but the original article attached several unsupported claims to the current owner. The best-documented controversies occurred during earlier ownership transitions.
Trump-era debt and the 1995 sale
Donald Trump bought The Plaza in 1988. The property later became part of his broader debt problems, and he sold his controlling interest in 1995. That transaction ended his ownership of the hotel.
The El Ad conversion dispute
After El Ad Properties bought The Plaza in 2004, its plan to convert much of the building into condominiums drew opposition from hotel workers and preservation advocates. A revised plan retained a hotel component, and the property closed for a major renovation before reopening as a mixed hotel-and-residential building. New York City’s 2005 interior-landmark designation added protection for major public spaces.
The 2018 sale dispute
Before Katara’s purchase, minority investors asserted rights connected with a proposed sale by Sahara. The disagreement involved a right of first refusal and litigation over who could complete the purchase. Katara ultimately acquired full ownership in 2018.
Warning: Do not rely on old ownership tables that still list Sahara Group or Kingdom Holding Company as current Plaza owners. Those stakes were superseded by Katara Hospitality’s 2018 acquisition.
Future Plans for the Plaza Hotel
Katara Hospitality and Fairmont’s current public pages do not announce a new sale or a major redevelopment of The Plaza. The safest current description is that Katara remains the owner and Fairmont continues to operate the hotel.
Any major work affecting designated exterior or interior features would need to follow New York City landmark-review rules. That makes preservation a continuing part of the property’s future, regardless of ordinary updates to rooms, services, dining, or building systems.
Claims about unannounced spa expansions, new cultural programs, chef partnerships, or major ownership-driven renovations should not be presented as fact unless Katara, Fairmont, or a government filing confirms them.
Impact of Ownership on the Plaza Hotel’s Operations and Reputation
Ownership and operation affect the hotel in different ways. An owner determines long-term capital spending, financing, and the overall strategy for the asset. The operator manages daily hotel service, staffing, reservations, food and beverage operations, and brand standards.
At The Plaza, Katara Hospitality provides the ownership and investment role, while Fairmont supplies the operating brand. This structure lets the hotel remain part of a global luxury-hotel system while the real estate stays in Katara’s portfolio.
The mixed hotel-and-condominium format also makes the property more complex than a traditional hotel. Hotel guests, residential unit owners, the hotel owner, the operator, and landmark regulators can have different responsibilities and interests within the same building.
The Significance of the Plaza Hotel’s Ownership
The Plaza’s ownership matters because the building is both a working luxury hotel and a protected cultural landmark. Each owner inherits a property with commercial demands, expensive maintenance needs, residential components, and preservation obligations.
The current ownership picture is clear: Katara Hospitality owns the hotel, Fairmont manages it, and Donald Trump, Sahara Group, and Kingdom Holding Company are former owners or investors rather than current controlling owners. Understanding those roles removes the contradictions that often appear in older articles about The Plaza.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who currently owns the Plaza Hotel in NYC?
Katara Hospitality owns The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The Qatar-based company acquired full ownership in 2018.
Who operates The Plaza Hotel?
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts operates and manages The Plaza. Fairmont is the hotel brand and manager; Katara Hospitality is the owner.
When did Katara Hospitality acquire The Plaza?
Katara Hospitality acquired full ownership in 2018 and continues to list The Plaza in its hotel portfolio.
Does Donald Trump still own The Plaza Hotel?
No. Donald Trump owned The Plaza from 1988 until 1995. He has no current ownership role.
Was Conrad Hilton an owner of The Plaza?
Yes. The Atlas Corporation, which was affiliated with Conrad Hilton, acquired The Plaza in 1943. Hilton’s ownership period ended in 1953.
Did Sahara Group own The Plaza Hotel?
Yes. Sahara India Pariwar held a controlling interest from 2012 until the 2018 sale. It is no longer the current owner.
Is The Plaza a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. The National Park Service lists June 24, 1986, as The Plaza Hotel’s National Historic Landmark designation date. Its exterior and selected interiors also have New York City landmark protection.
Are there announced future ownership plans for The Plaza?
No official owner or operator announcement currently identifies a planned sale or major ownership change. Katara Hospitality remains the listed owner, and Fairmont remains the operator.
Sources
- Katara Hospitality hotel portfolio — lists The Plaza as a Fairmont-managed property in Katara’s portfolio.
- Reuters — Katara’s 2018 Plaza acquisition — reports the purchase of full ownership.
- The Plaza official history — confirms the 1907 opening and the hotel’s architectural legacy.
- New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designation report — documents the hotel’s development, ownership timeline, architecture, and protected interiors.
- National Park Service National Historic Landmarks list — confirms the June 24, 1986, National Historic Landmark designation.
- Fairmont — The Plaza official hotel page — confirms Fairmont’s current operating role.
