Qatar Buys Iconic Plaza Hotel for $600M

The Plaza Hotel In New York Is Closed Amid The Coronavirus.

Qatar-owned Katara Holding is buying the Plaza Hotel for $600M, bringing to a close an ongoing saga surrounding the future ownership of the storied property.

The sale includes a 75% stake in Sahara India Pariwar, Reuters reports, and comes as three other would-be buyers jostled to strike a deal with its affiliate, Sahara U.S. Corp., the current majority owner.

Last month, Sahara had reportedly reached an agreement to sell the hotel to investors Shahal Khan and the Hakim Organization for $600M, after shopping the property for the past three years.

Minority owners Ashkenazy Acquisition Corp. and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's Kingdom Holding Co. sued to try and block the sale, arguing they had first right of refusal. They then matched the $600M offer, but abruptly pulled out of the offer to buy and opted to sell their 25% instead. Another possible buyer, United Capital Real Estate Development Corp., emerged as a third buyer late last month.

But, according to The Real Deal, Hassim Bin Jabber Al-Thani, a former Qatari prime minister, owned $400M in debt on the property that was coming due. This is the first property Katara has bought in New York City. It already owns the Savoy Hotel and the Connaught Hotel in London.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's New York Newsletters
Related Stories

How Long Island Projects Can Cut Through Red Tape And Community Opposition To Cross The Finish Line

More Hotel Owners In Need Of Cash Are Getting It From The Big Brands

Empire State Building Observation Deck Hemorrhaging Visitors, Value

Slate, Hudson Cos. Picked To Develop Massive Queens Housing Project

BXP's 343 Madison Lands $1.2B Loan, Nears Deal With Equity Partner

Mamdani Adds Millions To Program Helping Retailers Negotiate With Landlords

Canadian REIT Buys Brooklyn Medical Office For $90M: The N.Y. Deal Sheet

Hilton's Q2 Results Barely Beat Wall Street's Expectations

NYC Stops Construction On Another Office-To-Residential Conversion As Inspectors Descend On Job Sites

SL Green Cashing In On Surging Manhattan Office Market

The World Cup Filled Stadiums. Hotel Rooms Were A Different Story

Developers Build More Bedrooms As 99-Unit Projects Dominate