New York, Dec 03: Forget puttin' on the Ritz. Try puttin' on the Mandarin Oriental.
New York's new Mandarin Oriental 250-room hotel offers a suite with a $12,595 nightly pricetag, beating out the Ritz-Carlton by almost $100 as the costliest overnight lodging in the Big Apple.
The Mandarin's Presidential Suite, set to open to the public in January, includes a full kitchen, formal dining room, living room with high-definition flat-screen LCD televisions, baby grand piano, panoramic views of Central Park and the Hudson River and Asian-themed art worth almost $1 million.
The wood-paneled suite includes high-tech surround sound, an entertainment system, wet bar, office/media room and French-marbled foyer floors. The master bath has a two-person steam shower and a deep-soaking tub overlooking the park.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended a Feng Shui-inspired ribbon-cutting ceremony at the hotel on Monday.

Bureau Report