Sonesta White Plains Downtown unveils $28 million renovation

Part of the new Mix Cocktail Bar + Kitchen at the renovated Sonesta White Plains Downtown. Photographs by Georgette Gouveia.

On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the Sonesta White Plains Downtown unveiled a $28 million, property-wide renovation that has transformed the hotel into a sleek, sophisticated destination not only for tourists but for the business community and those seeking a city nightlife experience.

Bill Rooney Studios, a Manhattan-based interior design firm, has reimagined the hotel top to bottom with 403 light, airy guest rooms, including 12 suites, that take their inspiration from the “white marshes” of White Plains’ Native American name; nearly 20,000 square feet of flexible event space; featuring the 5,940-square-foot Plaza Ballroom, the 1,452-square-foot Pleasantville Room and 17 standalone meeting rooms; and a new work suite, restaurant and lobby bar.

From left, Hopeton Smith, director of engineering and security at the Sonesta White Plains Downtown, and Monika Henry, the hotel’s general manager, at the Dec. 10 unveiling of its renovations.

“Our extensive renovation has reimagined every aspect of the guest experience, from the sophisticated new lobby and the meticulously appointed guest rooms to newly introduced dining experiences,” said General Manager Monika Henry. “This transformation represents not only an investment in the hotel, but also in our city’s vibrant hospitality scene, and we look forward to welcoming returning guests, new visitors and local residents to experience the elevated standard of service and comfort in the heart of downtown White Plains.”

The new Sonesta Work Suite offers an experiential, multizone meeting space concept that marries meeting room design with services intended to enhance collaboration. The work suite, which plays off the lower level’s soft blue and white palette and proximity to the heated indoor pool, is available for hourly rentals by guests. Clients have access to audiovisual equipment and services as well as a dedicated convention services and catering team during their stay.

Located near The Westchester mall, Whole Foods and Bloomingdale’s off the intersection of Maple Avenue and Bloomingdale Road — two of the city’s main thoroughfares — the Sonesta White Plains Downtown has repositioned itself as an attractive gathering place for the locals as well as travelers. The Lobby Café serves hot beverages and breakfast items amid a jewel-colored setting offset by woodwork.

The Mix Cocktail Bar + Kitchen provides visitors with a sleek environment in a tan palette for drinks and light bites served before a fireplace or a dynamic bar with an aquamarine backdrop.

The bar’s tan and cream color scheme continues in the new Whisk restaurant, serving delicious breakfasts and dinners, (if the food at the Dec. 10 event were any indication).

Formerly the Crowne Plaza — a signature White Plains spot for more than three decades — the Sonesta White Plains Downtown was branded as such Dec. 1, 2020 as part of a transfer and rebranding of 103 hotels from InterContinental Hotels Group plc (IHG) to Sonesta International Hotels Corp. With roughly 1,100 hotels, Sonesta is the eighth largest hotel group in the United States.

The pet-friendly Sonesta White Plains Downtown is at 66 Hale Ave. The hotel is fully booked this week. For more, call 914-682-0050. And for more on the Sonesta’s renovations, see our story in the Dec. 16 edition of the Westfair Business Journal.