The New York Palace Hotel, a renowned
landmark luxury property located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, today
announced that on September 1st, 2005, all electrical components of the
Hotel’s operation will be backed up by a 2,800 kilowatt generator.  With the
completion of this auxiliary power source—newly christened as the “Safe
Haven” Generator —The New York Palace Hotel will be equipped to
independently provide 100% capacity electrical power for as many days as
needed in the event of an outage.  Guests of The Palace will now be assured
that air-conditioning, all safety and security systems, elevator service and
lighting will remain in full working order throughout the duration of any
blackout. Also today, The Palace announced that the development, manufacturing
and installation of custom made Personal Evacuation Kits in all guest rooms
had been completed in early July.Immediately following the Blackout of 2003, John L. Segreti, Managing
Director of The New York Palace Hotel, spearheaded an initiative to ensure
that guests of The Palace would remain both safe and completely comfortable in
the event of another power outage.  Over the course of the last two years, The
Palace has invested more than five million dollars in the design, engineering,
construction and installation of the “Safe Haven” Generator.  To facilitate
the installation, a full city block on the north side of the Hotel had to be
shut down on April 17, 2005 while the 81-ton generator was lifted to an 8th
floor back roof of the 55-story Hotel by a 650-ton crane. The “Safe Haven”
Generator measures in at 131 feet long, 14 feet wide and 15 feet high.  The
entire power distribution center for the Hotel was completely rebuilt in order
to accommodate the potential need for an immediate change in power source.
  “The New York Palace Hotel responded to the Northeast Blackout with an
unprecedented commitment,” said Mr. Segreti.  “The ‘Safe Haven’ Generator is
more than just a five million dollar investment that will keep our Hotel
operating at full capacity for the duration of any power outage, it is a
symbol of The Palace’s devotion and concern for its guests and employees.
While our entire staff was commended for performing well beyond the call of
duty during the most recent blackout, we are absolutely determined that no
person staying with us or working with us here at The Palace should ever have
to relive the challenges of August 14, 2003.”
  The firm of Southport Associates designed and engineered the generator,
which was manufactured by Atlantic Detroit Diesel Allison.  H&L Electric
served as the general contractor.  The project was directed from start to
finish by Mark Dehnert, Director of Property Operations for The New York
Palace Hotel.
  “Development of the ‘Safe Haven’ Generator was a massive undertaking that
required intense levels of creativity and perseverance,” said Mr. Dehnert.
“The ability to independently power a 55 floor building without any compromise
to service or comfort is highly unique for a hotel.  Traditionally, hospitals,
financial institutions and major government buildings have been known to have
generators of this strength. Our team at The Palace is extremely grateful to
all the partners we have worked with over the last two years to accomplish
this.”
  The Palace’s commitment to guest safety has been reinforced with the
development, manufacturing, and distribution of The New York Palace Personal
Evacuation Kit.  Installed in all 897 rooms and suites of The Hotel, the kits
were designed to assist in the event of an emergency evacuation.  The kits
include such personal safety tools as two alert whistles, a flashlight, a 12-
hour light-stick, two heat-resistant blankets and two heat-resistant emergency
escape hoods that come equipped with catalytic filter systems to protect
against toxic gases.
  “In these unpredictable times, we are committed to protecting our guests
from the harsh realities of the world to the best of our ability,” Mr. Segreti
concluded.  “We are very proud of the fact that the combination of these two
developments arms The New York Palace Hotel with an unquestionable point of
difference, both in the luxury market and the hotel industry as a whole.”
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