The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza Inducted Into Historic Hotels of America®

ST.LOUIS, July 10, 2025 – The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis, MO, is pleased to announce it has been inducted into Historic Hotels of America^®, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s official program recognizing, celebrating and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United States.

The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza is now one of more than 300 hotels and resorts throughout the country recognized by Historic Hotels of America for preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture and ambiance.

“Historic Hotels of America is delighted to induct The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza, an iconic hotel that unites the elegance of the Italian Renaissance-style Chase Hotel, built in 1922, with the striking 28-story Art Deco Park Plaza, completed in 1930,” said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice President of Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “We commend the leadership teams of The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza and Sonesta International Hotels for their careful historic preservation work, stewardship and vision that will allow future generations of travelers to experience this unique historic destination.”

To be selected for membership in Historic Hotels of America, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; have been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historic significance.

“Every St. Louisan has a Chase Park Plaza story,” said Amy Ruffner, general manager of The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza. “Whether it’s a couple’s wedding day or memories of watching Wrestling at the Chase, this iconic landmark is deeply woven into the city’s fabric in both personal histories and the greater story of St. Louis. The Sonesta team is honored to write the next chapter of the Chase Park Plaza’s legacy. Recognition by Historic Hotels of America will help us in that endeavor.”

Sonesta is the eighth largest hotel company in the U.S., according to Smith Travel Research (STR), with approximately 1,100 properties across 13 brands in nine countries. The Royal Sonesta brand portfolio is a collective of unique, memorable hotels in some of the world’s most desirable destinations. The Royal Sonesta properties offer an inspired mix of striking design, unrivaled—but decidedly unstuffy—service and authentic local touches. Other historic properties in The Royal Sonesta portfolio include The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York, The Clift Royal Sonesta San Francisco, The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta and The Allegro Royal Sonesta Chicago.

The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza is rich in history and architectural integrity. Construction on The Chase Hotel began in December 1921, and the 500-room Italian Renaissance masterpiece was completed in a record nine months. The building demonstrates classic symmetry, arched windows and ornamental detailing of the Renaissance Revival style. The hotel opened to the public in September 1922, and several of its iconic architectural elements remain in place today.

The neighboring Park Plaza Hotel was completed in 1930 and features an Art Deco design that celebrates the roaring spirit of the era. Streamlined, elegant and glitzy, with perfect symmetry and acute angles, the Park Plaza is a Gothic Revival structure that glides upward, soaring above the Central West End and Forest Park below. The Park Plaza Hotel was initially intended to compete with The Chase Hotel, but one of the passionate hoteliers who founded it eventually acquired both businesses and merged them. In the late 1950s, the hotels were physically connected, creating The Chase Park Plaza.

“The Chase is the place,” was the hotel’s tagline for decades. A fitting phrase for a destination steeped in historic significance. The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza is not only locally significant, but as a hotel, it has played host to notable guests and major events that have put St. Louis in the national spotlight, including:

• A 1920s prohibition raid that made headlines in The New York Times.
• Host to more than 17 U.S. Presidents and countless foreign dignitaries.
• Located on historic Route 66, the location was the place for well-to-do travelers to stay when passing through the city.
• The hotel was the site of the 1956 Miss America Contest, and the Chase Club was one of the hottest nightclubs in America in the 1950s, bringing entertainers like Ethel Merman, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole to the city.
• The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, stayed at the hotel, as did the Rolling Stones.
• Wrestling at the Chase premiered on KPLR Channel 11 in 1959 and became one of pro-wrestling’s most notable programs. Running for 24 years, the show brought legendary stars to St. Louis, including Ric Flair, Harley Race, Ted Dibiase, Lou Thesz and “Cowboy” Bob Orton Jr.

The hotel underwent a major renovation and modernization in the early 2000s, and in 2017, the hotel was acquired and came under the management of Sonesta International Hotels, becoming The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza. Today, the hotel retains its legacy of luxury while providing elevated travel for the next era. A modern, full-service hotel with nearly 400 guest rooms, the structure boasts over 65,000 square feet of event space, a fitness center, a Mediterranean-style outdoor swimming pool, a cinema and three on-site restaurants.

About Historic Hotels of America^®

Historic Hotels of America^® is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing, celebrating, and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United States of America. The National Trust for Historic Preservation was chartered by U.S. Congress in 1949 and is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is leading the movement to save places where our history happened. To be nominated and selected for membership in this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historical significance. Of the more than 300 historic hotels inducted into Historic Hotels of America from 44 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, all historic hotels faithfully preserve their sense of authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity. For more information, please visit HistoricHotels.org.