(NEW YORK CITY) - The 378 Unionized Workers employed at the Plaza Hotel will have to find work elsewhere for at least four years beginning in January, as the landmark Manhattan Hotel closes for an extensive facade restoration that City Officials say follows reports of unsafe conditions on the building’s exterior.

In a conversation with The Chief, an Official with the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council, which represents the Hotel’s Workers, said the Union wouldn't publicly on the closure - but described the Union’s efforts to help employees find interim work and ensure they receive benefits during the closure. 

Under provisions negotiated by the Union in its contract, the 380 Workers affected by the closure will have the right to return to their jobs when the Hotel reopens, regardless of how long it remains closed.

The contract also gives laid-off Workers priority for placement in other Hotel jobs as positions become available, putting them ahead of other job-seekers.

In addition, the Workers are entitled to extended medical coverage during the furlough, although the precise duration of that coverage remains to be determined, the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council Official said.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, the Hotel’s operator, announced the Plaza would close in January 2027 for comprehensive repairs and restoration of its landmark-protected facade, citing the complexity of the work and its impact on Hotel operations.

The operator said in a statement: Because of the project's complexity and operational impact, the hotel announced it will close for at least four years starting in January 2027 while the work is completed.

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