An ambitious but subtle facelift for a French beauty

[NEW YORK] The red awnings and scarlet geraniums have returned to the newly buffed art nouveau balconies of the Hôtel Plaza Athénée, whose facade on chic Avenue Montaigne in Paris had for months resembled a construction zone.

And then it didn't. After a 200 million euro (S$334 million) expansion and renovation, this marquee property of the Dorchester Collection reopened this month in what was being billed as a soft launch but seemed a little more substantial.

"All of the available rooms were full the first night, the bar was full," said François Delahaye, general manager of the Plaza Athénée and chief operating officer of the Dorchester Collection. "We served 486 meals from room service. Of course, we were prepared, but it was a little unexpected."