There’s a new king at the palace – The New York Palace Hotel, that is – now that Niklaus J. Leuenberger has joined the renowned Manhattan landmark as Managing Director, following 35 noteworthy years in the hospitality industry.

Leuenberger isn’t the only new face at this Midtown East bastion of luxury. The hotel recently announced the completion of a 17-month, $12 million event space renovation in The Villard Mansion.

“The Mansion Rooms,” situated over the fourth and fifth floors of The Palace’s famed Villard Mansion, include seven classically designed rooms with natural light and spacious foyers overlooking the hotel’s Madison Avenue courtyard. Developed for social and corporate events, the new 13,000-square-foot space is located directly upstairs from GILT, The Palace’s acclaimed New American restaurant.

The Mansion Rooms call to mind the glory of the Gilded Age and reflect the Neo-Italian Renaissance style of the mansion’s original architecture. Adorned with intricate marble craftsmanship, decorative wall paneling, and distinctive crown molding, the new lobbies on each of the meeting room floors create grand first impressions for guests.

Each of the new event rooms has been named in honor of individuals who played a role in the evolution of the mansion, along with famed American entrepreneur Henry Villard. One such notable person is Stanford White, the renowned late 19th century architect responsible for the original design of The Villard Mansion.

Following an event in one of The Mansion Rooms, Palace guests can retire to the splendor of The Towers, the hotel’s premium tier that offers a private lobby entrance, high-speed elevators, butler service, and extraordinary views of the Manhattan skyline. While The Mansion Rooms offer the finest in old-world elegance, The Towers at The New York Palace Hotel offers the best in new-world opulence.

With the completion of the renovation, The New York Palace [www.newyorkpalace.com] has further secured its reputation as a crown jewel among New York’s luxury hotel properties.