On The List
The Kardashians, David and Victoria Beckham, Cardi B, the Hadid sisters, Donatella Versace and, of course, Anna Wintour, are among approximately 60 A-Listers that choose The Mark as their base for Met Gala Monday. Blake Lively once remarked that “getting ready at The Mark has become part of the tradition.”
Wake-Up Call
The hard-working staff at The Mark deliver over 200 coffees from 6AM to noon alone, brewing 48 cups of coffee every 15 minutes to ensure celebrities are bright-eyed before the red carpet.
What A Ride
The Mark is only four blocks away from The Met - it is located at Madison Avenue and 77th Street - but it takes around 15 minutes to drive the 500-metre distance on Met Gala night because of the convoys of cars and security. It is this journey that Kim Kardashian did standing up in 2019, as her Mugler ‘wet-look’ gown was too tight to sit in.
Under Cover
While focus is predominantly on how celebrities get from The Mark to The Met, navigating the hotel itself needs to be just as seamless. To facilitate celebrities moving around the hotel (without bumping into each other), a core team of forty collaborators manage the elevators and transport to ensure they can step from open elevator doors through the doors of an awaiting vehicle. There are also quick getaways through service elevators and side doors, as well as decoy movements like exiting in a garment bag, to trick paparazzi.
Plan Of Action
The Mark begins planning for the next Met Gala immediately after the current one ends, as mastering the logistics takes a full 365 days. On Met Gala day, the hotel’s staff, from concierge and security to housekeeping and catering, hold hourly meetings and have an up-to-the-minute schedule for celebrities’ movements (and the movements of their teams).
Final Touches
There are designated, secure rooms at The Mark for last-minute alterations, fashion storage and fittings, and seamstresses from the world’s most prestigious Houses fly in to New York City for the occasion.
Top Dog
In the lobby of The Mark is a hot dog stand adorned in the hotel's iconic black-and-white stripes. Naturally, this is no ordinary snack cart. Created by Jean-Georges, The Mark's award-winning resident chef, the gourmet hot dogs are topped with condiments including yuzu pickles and kimchi relish and come served with oh-so-Instagrammable french fries.
To The Roof
The Mark Penthouse is a spectacular two-storey, 12,000 square-foot space which boasts five bedrooms, a ballroom, private library and a rooftop terrace. It is the first suite to be booked every year, and is the venue for one of the Met Gala’s most exclusive afterparties. Unsurprisingly, it is also one of the most expensive suites in North America, coming in at a cool $75,000 per night.
Roll Out The Red Carpet
The red carpet of The Mark is often where eagle-eyed fans get their first glimpse of celebrities, but the carpet is a star in itself. It is custom-made to a precise length and thickness, and takes a crew of 10 people to place it perfectly.
Smell The Roses
The Mark Hotel receives almost 10,000 flowers the day before the Met Gala, which find their way into the private and public spaces of the hotel in artful arrangements - accounting for celebrities' colour preferences, of course.
