Hotel In Bergen County To Close 1 Month, Reopen As 'World Of Blue'

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The former Park Hotel in East Rutherford will close for a month this spring and reopen as a new concept called World of Blue, just in time for World Cup festivities.

The $100 million redevelopment of the hotel, once owned by Hilton, is meant to take advantage of visitors to the soccer matches that begin June 11. Several matches will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

The hotel will close for the month of May, said a spokesperson. Guests can stay through April and can stay again starting in June.

Real estate developer Harvey Rosenblatt, the CEO of P3 Properties and new owner of the property, aims to rebrand the 21-story building "into a distinctive, independent, non-flag hotel destination designed to support year round demand driven by major events, corporate travel, and the evolving Meadowlands tourism economy."

He said the natural environment and views in the Meadowlands contributed to the name, and are sometimes overlooked.

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“We are surrounded by blue from the dramatic views of the Hudson River to the vast tidal waterways to the incredible skyline," he said. "This region’s blueness is perhaps its most uncredited feature."

Renovations are proceeding rapidly, said a spokesperson.

Rosenblatt said, “We’re building something designed to last well beyond a single event, but there’s no doubt that the World Cup created urgency and clarity around what the Meadowlands can become, and what East Rutherford deserves.”

P3 envisions World of Blue "not merely as a hotel name, but as a brand ecosystem that supports independent hospitality programming unconstrained by traditional franchise structures."

The hotel, located at 2 Meadowlands Plaza, will welcome weddings, conventions, and more.

Jim Kirkos, president of the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce, said, “The World Cup is a once-in-a-generation moment for the Meadowlands, but the real opportunity is what we build around it."

FIFA World Cup games will take place from June 11 through July 19. Fan events and watch parties will take place around North Jersey.