Waldorf hysteria

Delay of famed hotel redo confounds execs, observers

Manhattan’s iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotel, which has been “temporarily” closed since February 2017, will not reopen until at least 2025, sources told the Post.

The ongoing delays to reopen the art deco jewel is a continued black eye for the Hilton brand — which is launching “Waldorf Astoria”-named properties around the world while the flagship remains a construction zone, sources said.

“They just started work on it,” one insider said, referring to the hotel portion of the larger job, which involves converting much of the landmark building at 301 Park Ave. to luxury condos.

A Hilton spokesperson vowed the renovations will be done by next year.

“The property is expected to reopen in the second half of 2024” and “serve as the flagship for our entire Waldorf Astoria brand,” the rep told The Post on Wednesday.

But two construction sources doubted the target date -especially after earlier predictions that the hotel would reopen in 2019, 2021, 2022 and this year proved premature.

“We’re lucky if it’s 2025,” one of the sources said.

There is still plenty of work left to do before guests can book a luxury suite or a table for the hotel’s famous Sunday brunch.

The Waldorf has been a mainstay of the city’s celebration

fabric since 1931. It has played host to US presidents, European royalty, Hollywood stars and captains of industry. Composer Cole Porter lived there until his death in 1964. His famous piano stood in the lobby outside Peacock Alley up until the time of the closing.

Now, glimpses of parts of the ground floor reveal only a raw space.

Hilton itself seems unsure about the timing of the reopening. Several former employees spotted online job postings for positions, but they’re apparently out of date.

Sources said that Hilton suits were “livid” that their supposed flagship remains in limbo.

The spokesperson didn’t respond to questions about friction over the continued delays.

Industry insiders blame the repeatedly delayed reopening on foreign ownership entities that have bungled a difficult job, they said.

China’s Anbang Insurance — a holding company with little real estate experience — bought the Waldorf Astoria for $1.95 billion in 2014.

Hilton Worldwide signed a 100-year contract to manage the Waldorf Astoria that year.