Last Updated on July 30, 2026 by Daniel Globe
The Plaza Hotel is one of New York City’s best-known luxury landmarks, but its long ownership history can make the current answer difficult to find. The hotel has passed through the hands of famous hoteliers, real-estate investors, Donald Trump, Sahara Group, and other international owners since the present building opened beside Central Park in 1907.
Quick Answer
Katara Hospitality, a Qatar-based hotel owner, owns The Plaza Hotel in New York. It acquired full ownership in 2018 for about $600 million. The property operates as The Plaza, A Fairmont Hotel, meaning Fairmont manages the hotel while Katara Hospitality owns it.
Key Takeaways
- Current owner: Katara Hospitality owns The Plaza Hotel.
- Acquisition date: Katara acquired full ownership in 2018 for approximately $600 million.
- Hotel operator: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts manages the property but is not its owner.
- Former owner: Sahara Group held a controlling interest from 2012 until the 2018 sale.
- Historic status: The Plaza is protected as a New York City landmark and a National Historic Landmark.
Who Owns The Plaza Hotel in New York Today?
Katara Hospitality is the current owner of The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The Qatar-based company acquired full ownership of the landmark hotel in 2018, making The Plaza its first hotel acquisition in the United States.
The transaction was valued at approximately $600 million. It included the 75% interest previously held by India’s Sahara Group and the remaining minority interest in the hotel.
Katara Hospitality owns The Plaza Hotel; Fairmont Hotels & Resorts manages its hotel operations.
| Current owner | Katara Hospitality |
| Year acquired | 2018 |
| Reported purchase price | Approximately $600 million |
| Hotel manager | Fairmont Hotels & Resorts |
| Location | 768 Fifth Avenue at Central Park South, New York City |
| Accommodations | 282 guestrooms, including 102 suites |
Does Fairmont Own The Plaza Hotel?
No. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts manages The Plaza, but Katara Hospitality owns it. The property’s formal name, “The Plaza, A Fairmont Hotel,” identifies its hotel brand and operator rather than its real-estate owner.
Fairmont has managed the hotel for many years and handles areas such as reservations, guest services, rooms, dining, and day-to-day hotel operations. Katara Hospitality holds the ownership interest and includes The Plaza in its international hotel portfolio.
Pro Tip: When researching hotel ownership, check both the property owner and the operating brand. The company whose name appears on a reservation page is not always the company that owns the building.
History of The Plaza Hotel
The first hotel called The Plaza opened at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South in 1890. That building was demolished in 1905 to make way for a larger hotel designed by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh.
The present Plaza opened on October 1, 1907. Its French château-inspired architecture, elaborate public rooms, and Central Park location quickly made it one of New York’s most prominent hotels. The building later became associated with major social events, visiting dignitaries, films, and books such as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Kay Thompson’s Eloise.
Major Ownership and Property Milestones
- 1890: The first Plaza Hotel opened at the site.
- 1905: The original building was demolished to make room for the present hotel.
- 1907: The current Plaza Hotel opened on October 1.
- 1943: Conrad Hilton and Atlas Corporation acquired the hotel for $7.4 million.
- 1969: The Plaza was designated a New York City landmark.
- 1978: It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1986: The property became a National Historic Landmark.
- 1988: Donald Trump acquired The Plaza for approximately $390 million.
- 2004: Elad Properties acquired the hotel in a transaction reported at $675 million.
- 2005–2008: Elad closed the hotel for an extensive restoration and mixed-use redevelopment.
- 2012: Sahara Group acquired a controlling interest for approximately $570 million.
- 2018: Katara Hospitality purchased full ownership for approximately $600 million.
When Did Sahara Group Own The Plaza Hotel?
Sahara Group did not acquire The Plaza in 2004. The Indian conglomerate agreed to purchase a controlling interest in 2012 for approximately $570 million. The seller was Elad Properties, which had acquired the hotel eight years earlier and led its major redevelopment.
After the 2012 transaction, Sahara held a 75% interest, while Kingdom Holding retained a minority stake. Fairmont continued to manage the hotel. Sahara’s period as controlling owner lasted until Katara Hospitality completed its full acquisition in 2018.
Note: Older articles that identify Sahara Group as The Plaza’s owner may have been accurate between 2012 and 2018. They are no longer current.
What Happened During the Elad Properties Redevelopment?
Elad Properties acquired The Plaza in 2004 and closed it in 2005 for a large restoration and redevelopment. The project converted much of the building into a mixture of hotel accommodations, condominium units, private residences, retail areas, and protected public spaces.
The Plaza’s official timeline describes the work as a $450 million restoration. The hotel reopened in 2008. This project, rather than a later Sahara program, is the best-documented modern restoration of the property.
The redevelopment also explains why references to “The Plaza” may describe different interests within the same building. The operating hotel, residential units, retail areas, and common spaces do not always have identical ownership arrangements.
What Changed After Katara Hospitality Bought The Plaza?
Katara Hospitality’s acquisition placed the hotel within a global portfolio of luxury and historic properties. The Plaza continued to operate under Fairmont management rather than changing to a Katara-branded hotel.
The property temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 and reopened to hotel guests in May 2021. That closure occurred under Katara ownership. It should not be described as a financial or operating challenge faced by Sahara Group.
No unsupported claim should be made that Katara has announced a particular large-scale renovation, Indian cultural program, luxury-brand partnership, or redevelopment plan. Routine maintenance and updates may occur, but specific future projects should be reported only after an official announcement.
How Landmark Protection Affects The Plaza
The Plaza’s exterior has been protected as a New York City landmark since 1969. Important public interiors also received city landmark protection in 2005, including notable ground-floor, mezzanine, and first-floor spaces.
The National Park Service lists The Plaza as a National Historic Landmark, with a designation date of June 24, 1986. These protections do not prevent every change, but they can require review and approval before protected architectural features are altered.
Landmark protection is therefore a more concrete explanation of the limits on renovation than speculation about whether a particular foreign or domestic owner intends to preserve the hotel. Any owner must operate within applicable preservation rules.
How Many Rooms Does The Plaza Hotel Have?
According to Fairmont’s current property information, The Plaza offers 282 guestrooms in total, including 102 suites. The correct figure is not 282 rooms plus 102 suites.
The accommodations range from traditional guestrooms to large one-of-a-kind suites. The hotel also offers dining, event spaces, wellness services, shopping, and direct access to Central Park and Fifth Avenue attractions.
Why The Plaza’s Ownership Has Caused Confusion
The hotel has changed hands many times, and the name visible to guests is the name of its manager rather than its owner. In addition, The Plaza is a mixed-use property that includes hotel and residential components.
Confusion usually comes from one of three sources:
- An older article still names Sahara Group, which was the controlling owner from 2012 to 2018.
- A booking page identifies the hotel as a Fairmont property, leading readers to assume Fairmont owns it.
- A report discusses a private residence or condominium within The Plaza rather than ownership of the hotel operation itself.
For the hotel ownership question, the current answer is Katara Hospitality.
Who Owns The Plaza Hotel in New York? Final Answer
Katara Hospitality owns The Plaza Hotel in New York City. The company acquired full ownership in 2018 for approximately $600 million, purchasing Sahara Group’s controlling interest along with the remaining minority interest.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts continues to manage and operate the hotel. Sahara Group is an important former owner, but any article that describes Sahara as the current owner is outdated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who currently owns The Plaza Hotel in New York?
Katara Hospitality, a Qatar-based global hotel owner and developer, currently owns The Plaza Hotel.
When did Katara Hospitality acquire The Plaza?
Katara Hospitality acquired full ownership in 2018. The transaction was reported at approximately $600 million.
Does Sahara Group still own The Plaza Hotel?
No. Sahara Group acquired a controlling interest in 2012 and sold that interest as part of Katara Hospitality’s full acquisition in 2018.
Does Fairmont own The Plaza?
No. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts manages the hotel. Katara Hospitality is the owner.
Did Donald Trump own The Plaza Hotel?
Yes. Donald Trump acquired The Plaza in 1988 for approximately $390 million. The hotel later changed hands before Elad Properties acquired it in 2004.
Who completed The Plaza’s major modern restoration?
Elad Properties led the extensive restoration and mixed-use redevelopment that closed the hotel in 2005. The Plaza reopened in 2008 after a project the hotel’s official timeline values at $450 million.
How many rooms and suites does The Plaza have?
The Plaza has 282 guestrooms in total, including 102 suites.
Is The Plaza protected as a historic landmark?
Yes. The Plaza is a New York City landmark, important public interiors have separate city protection, and the property has been a National Historic Landmark since 1986.
Sources
- Katara Hospitality: The Plaza, A Fairmont Managed Hotel — confirms the hotel’s place in Katara Hospitality’s portfolio.
- Katara Hospitality acquisition announcement — confirms The Plaza as Katara’s first United States acquisition.
- Reuters: Qatar to buy New York’s Plaza Hotel — supports the 2018 full acquisition, approximate price, and Sahara’s former 75% stake.
- Reuters: The Plaza sold to Sahara — supports the 2012 controlling-stake transaction and continued Fairmont management.
- The Plaza official historical timeline — supports opening, ownership, landmark, restoration, and cultural-history dates.
- National Park Service National Historic Landmarks list — confirms The Plaza’s 1986 National Historic Landmark designation.