I’ve been staying at The Plaza Hotel in New York, here and there, for many years: before the Trumps bought it in 1988, then after the Trump renovation and, most recently, after the newest three-year, $450 million redo by new owners El Ad Group and Kingdom Holdings. So it was with trepidation that I walked through the landmark lobby and … sighed. It was perfect. A sensitive renovation carved a portion of the hotel into luxury pieds-à-terre, magnificent in themselves, and retained the glamour of the hotel with 180 guest rooms and 102 suites in seven distinctive designs — and the largest overall guest-room square footage of any NYC luxury hotel. The Plaza’s general manager is none other than the charming Shane Krige, most recently the managing director of Dallas’ Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Krige, who joined the hotel in 2007, helped shepherd the hotel through the transition with the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts management team. The Oak Room and Oak Bar (originally opened in 1945) retain their fabled interiors, but newness abounds with The Champagne Bar in the Lobby (prime for people-watching and armchair window shopping at adjacent Bergdorf Goodman), the mezzanine-level Rose Club and the reopening of the Palm Court. Large guest rooms have sumptuous baths, mosaic-tiled top to bottom, with Sherle Wagner sinks and fixtures, commodious showers and tubs. The new Shops at the Plaza consist of a Caudalie Spa, Fitness Center by Radu, Warren Tricomi Salon and a multitude of shops. Eloise, who has lived at the Plaza since 1955, has taken up residence again in the most grand, grand, grand way with an Eloise shop and a high-tea adventure. Reservations and information 888.240.7775; fairmont.com/theplaza.