Marriott Plaza Hotel, Buenos Aires

Plaza Hotel Buenos Aires
Plaza Hotel Buenos Aires
General information
Location	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Address	Florida 1005 Buenos Aires, C1005AAU Argentina
Opening	July 15, 1909
Design and construction
Architect	Alfred Zucker
Website
www.plazahotelba.com

The Plaza Hotel Buenos Aires is a five-star hotel located in the Retiro district, just steps from Calle Florida shopping area and overlooking the Plaza San Martín.

The Plaza was originally developed by local landowner and banker Ernesto Tornquist. Facing San Martín Square, the nine-story hotel was designed by German born architect Alfred Zucker and built at the northern end of Florida Street. The establishment was inaugurated as the Plaza Hotel on July 15, 1909, with the presence of President José Figueroa Alcorta. The hotel's developer, Ernesto Tornquist, had died in 1908, however.

Touted at the time as the finest hotel in South America, it was also its most modern. The original 160 rooms and 16 suites each had central heating and telephone access, and all were accessible via elevators. The hotel was wholly furnished at its outset by the prestigious London houses of Thompson & Company and Waring & Gillow. Marble sculptures by Gustav Eberlein of Germany and ceiling frescoes by Julio Vila y Prades of Spain added to the hotel's decor. Two new wings were added between 1942 and 1948, and additional work completed in 1977 brought the total number of rooms to nearly 400. The hotel was a part of the Inter-Continental Hotels chain from 1981-1982 and was briefly renamed the Plaza Inter-Continental.

The Washington, DC-based Marriott Hotels Group assumed management of the hotel in 1994 for a period of 30 years while the property was still controlled by Tornquinst's descendants. It was renamed the Marriott Plaza Hotel Buenos Aires. Following a US$10 million refurbishment, the establishment was awarded a five star rating.