The Plaza - for Fairmont Hotels by Aaron Vincent Elkaim

Freddy J. Davila, right, has be...ou do with your actual family.

Freddy J. Davila, right, has been working at the Plaza for 26 years. "One time I was on the 59th street door and it was really cold, so I went inside for one moment, when I went outside there was Charles Bronson, he said he had been waiting for 15 minutes and cursed me out, so I brought his bags in and he gave me a $20 tip. I love how every day is something different, new people from all over the world. The repeat guests, seeing the kids grow up over the years is amazing. I love this place, its a great place it's like a family here, you spend time here than you do with your actual family.

Tony Guerrero, I started here o...we lived in Washinton Heights.

Tony Guerrero, I started here on June 7, 1989. "Came out of the Marine Corpt and he desperatly needed the job. A friend of his told him to apply for a security job, and because of his military background, he got it. In 1994 the genreal manager offered me the position of the Bellman, in 1998 a doorman retired, and I switched positions one more time, looking for the big time, looking for the glory of the Plaza Hotel. I've been a door man ever since." I was born in Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, my mother brought me over when I was 6 years old, we lived in Washinton Heights.

Room Attendant Isabel Ferreira.

Criston Dias has been working f...istory of this place was."

Criston Dias has been working for the Plaza for only 1 month as a housekeeping Manager. He's part of the Fairmont Summit Leader Program, which gives him experience in different areas of management. "I was raised in New York, but has been living in Miami since he was 14. After school he I applied to Fairmont, but when they placed me at the Plaza, I didn't realize how big of deal it was. I knew they had done Home Alone Two here, but I wasn't aware of how amazing the history of this place was."

Jordanny Leonardo started at th...he gets to work with each day.

Jordanny Leonardo started at the Plaza in 2012 as a Butler, his father now works at the CPS Events side of the Plaza but has worked at the Plaza for 37 years. Jordanny got the job after another friend recommended him to the hotel side, making it a coincidence that he and his father now work in the same building. Jordanny is inspired by the diversity of people he gets to work with each day.

Room Attendant Isabel Ferreira.

Ivica Matusic has been a server...uot; Narendra Nathani in back.

Ivica Matusic has been a server at the Champagne Bar for 8 years. "One time this little girl returned after I gave her a Eloise doll when she was 5, she returned a few years later with a Teddy Bear and told me she named it after me, it's a cute story. I love kids, and it's a great part of the job watching the long time clients children grow up." "Making people happy, that's my job, it's a great thing, I love it." Narendra Nathani in back.

Fabrizio Agrestal started worki...ing in the kitchen ever since.

Fabrizio Agrestal started working at the Plaza when he was 18 in 1976. He left for a couple of years but returned in 1977 and has been working in the kitchen ever since.

Clement Liu, is a runner, takes...ing at the Plaza for 3 months.

Clement Liu, is a runner, takes food from the kitchen to the dining rooms. He's been working at the Plaza for 3 months.

Luigi Norrito, who serves in th...'m like a leader to them.

Luigi Norrito, who serves in the Palm Room, has been working at the Plaza for 42 years. started when he was 23. Arrived in the US in 1970, had a license for culinary school. He came with his young wife who passed away 4 years ago. He says life keeps on going, he misses her very much but the job keeps him going, socializing with people is so fun for him. He says if you take your job to seriously, you don't want to go, but when you can socialize and can be yourself it's a wonderful experience. I started when America was the real America, by brother was working here at the Palm Court, I started working in the kitchen, but needed a change so I could spend more time with my family. I then moved to the Oyster Bar where I worked for 27 years. The Plaza is part of my family, all the staff here are like brothers and sisters to me, they respect me and I respect them, I'm like a leader to them.

Latif Ali has been working at t...#039;s wonderful to meet them.

Latif Ali has been working at the Plaza in Room Service for the past 27 years. Originally from Bangladesh, he has 3 kids and has put one daughter through Med School already, the other is studying medical research, his youngest boy is still in highschool. I love communicating with the guests, people from all over the world come here, it's wonderful to meet them.

Freddy J. Davila, middle, has b...ou do with your actual family.

Freddy J. Davila, middle, has been working at the Plaza for 26 years. "One time I was on the 59th street door and it was really cold, so I went inside for one moment, when I went outside there was Charles Bronson, he said he had been waiting for 15 minutes and cursed me out, so I brought his bags in and he gave me a $20 tip. I love how every day is something different, new people from all over the world. The repeat guests, seeing the kids grow up over the years is amazing. I love this place, its a great place it's like a family here, you spend time here than you do with your actual family.

Lau Chun-Tai cleans the Palm Co...t his work without any bother.

Lau Chun-Tai cleans the Palm Court, he has been doing custodial work on the night shit at the Plaza for 8 years. He says he like the shift, as he can go about his work without any bother.

Jocelyn Fenelus has been workin...ard. He has a wife and 3 kids.

Jocelyn Fenelus has been working in Engineering for 16 years. This year he won the Employee of the Year Award. He has a wife and 3 kids.

Laurence Ledanois, right, has b... Eloise boutique at the Plaza.

Laurence Ledanois, right, has been working at the Plaza for 19 years, and Jessica Azoulai, who has only been working at the Eloise for a couple months, arrange tables for a tea time at the Eloise boutique at the Plaza.

Jocelyn Fenelus has been workin... With Jerry Dimitratus, right.

Jocelyn Fenelus has been working in Engineering for 16 years. This year he won the Employee of the Year Award. He has a wife and 3 kids. With Jerry Dimitratus, right.

Dianne Anis has been working at...rew up here in New York."

Dianne Anis has been working at the Plaza for 7 years. "Nothing major really happens here, I'm pretty secluded in the drycleaning room. Although everone needs some drycleaning at some point, I get to mix with all the staff from the GM and the executive office to the the rest of the staff. It's a nice part of the job.- I was born in Guyanna but I grew up here in New York."

Criston Dias has been working for the Plaza for only 1 month as a housekeeping Manager. He's part of the Fairmont Summit Leader Program, which gives him experience in different areas of management. "I was raised in New York, but has been living in Miami since he was 14. After school he I applied to Fairmont, but when they placed me at the Plaza, I didn't realize how big of deal it was. I knew they had done Home Alone Two here, but I wasn't aware of how amazing the history of this place was."

Night Manager Emma Pickard.

Abdel Bali, Room Service.

Judy Choy, housekeeping.

Freddy J. Davila, middle, has been working at the Plaza for 26 years. "One time I was on the 59th street door and it was really cold, so I went inside for one moment, when I went outside there was Charles Bronson, he said he had been waiting for 15 minutes and cursed me out, so I brought his bags in and he gave me a $20 tip. I love how every day is something different, new people from all over the world. The repeat guests, seeing the kids grow up over the years is amazing. I love this place, its a great place it's like a family here, you spend time here than you do with your actual family.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim

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