The Mark Hotel has become the go-to for celebrities attending the Met Gala who splash out big bucks on luxury suites and fly in glam squads to prep them for the first Monday in May.
The Upper East Side hotel is a celebrity hot spot, as stars like Kendall Jenner, Bad Bunny, Doechii, and Charli XCX make sure to pose for pictures while leaving the premises and heading to the star-studded gala.
However, it’s not just about staying at the luxurious hotel itself, it’s also about how the staff goes above and beyond to deliver for their all-star guests.
Some celebrities have excessive riders, where they request everything from volcanic water to fried chicken from KFC delivered hourly.
The Mark revealed some of the intel to Conde Nast Traveler, explaining how they go all out to guarantee their A-listers are ready for the gala.
The Mark Hotel staff has provided volcanic water from Hawaii, which is said to offer better hydration, a smoother taste, and potential skin benefits.
Most surprisingly, the team at the hotel has replenished KFC every hour on the hour regardless of whether it was eaten or not.
They were also sent on a wild goose chase cross country when they had a brand who only wanted one specific type of tea in their suites. Only one café in San Francisco had the brand of tea, so they had to overnight it to make the brand’s dream come true.
Some people were shocked by the demands, with one person saying, ‘Watching this in our current political climate feels criminal,’ and another agreeing, ‘I fully think celebs who have obscene unethical riders should be outed. The audacity to waste so much food, just because you can, is shameful.’
While the requests might seem over-the-top, these stars are paying thousands for the privileges of snoozing in the swanky hotel’s famous suites.
While the least expensive room at the five star boutique hotel in May goes for a cool $1,400 a night, celebrities opt for much roomier suites, so they can host their helpers and glam squads.
The Mark Penthouse is the most exclusive option and costs a mindboggling $100,000 a night.
It’s the largest hotel penthouse suite in the United States, coming in at more than 10,000 square feet, including a 2,500 square foot rooftop terrace overlooking Central Park, and conveniently, the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The lavish penthouse takes up two whole floors and boasts five bedrooms, four fireplaces, six bathrooms, two powder rooms perfect for getting ready for the big night, and two wet bars.
Of course, when one stays at The Mark, they’re opting for the whole experience, not just the opulent guest room.
Visitors can enjoy in-room dining by celebrity chef Jean-Georges, wellness experiences like IV drips to perk them up pre-gala, and visits to the Frédéric Fekkai hair salon to prep.
If for some reason an aspect of their ensemble is missing, The Mark has a relationship with Bergdorf Goodman, which will happily open its doors for guests providing, who gain access to personal shoppers.
The luxurious add-ons haven’t gone unnoticed, and have helped make the hotel the go-to for celebrities in town from London or Los Angeles for the big event.
In fact, there’s even a livestream that showcases the stars leaving their lodgings and heading to the museum.
Many stars have taken to covering up their outfits with oversized coats to make sure they don’t give anything away before they hit the red carpet.
