Waldorf Astoria New York will convert its Grand Ballroom into a full-size tennis court for a single night on August 27, 2026, marking the public launch of Waldorf Astoria Racquet Club — the brand's new global platform positioning racquet culture as a pillar of luxury hospitality programming.
Tickets for the Ballroom Tennis Invitational start at $1,500 and include courtside access to showcase singles matches featuring ATP players Tommy Paul and Ben Shelton alongside WTA players Leylah Fernandez and Maria Sakkari. The evening runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and layers sport with a full culinary and beverage production inside one of New York's most storied event spaces.
The Food & Beverage Program
The culinary component is anchored by Lex Yard, Waldorf Astoria New York's signature restaurant led by four-time James Beard Award winner Chef Michael Anthony. The evening's offerings include interactive chef stations, premium seafood, a Lobster Club limited-time special, and Champagne service from Moët & Chandon. The beverage program revives the hotel's original Racquet Club cocktail — part of the Waldorf Bar's historical tradition of occasion-driven "appointment cocktailing" — which will remain on the Lex Yard menu through September 13. The Guerlain Wellness Spa will also activate on-site with beauty and wellness assessments for attendees.
For operators watching how luxury hotels are evolving their food and beverage strategies, the Invitational is a useful case study: a single-night, sport-adjacent experiential event that justifies premium price points through layered programming — curated F&B, celebrity talent access, spa touchpoints, and exclusive merchandise — rather than a conventional gala format. The model reflects a broader industry shift toward experiential hospitality programming as a revenue driver and brand differentiator, particularly in urban luxury properties competing for high-spend guests.
Packages and Charitable Tie-In
Beyond general access tickets, Waldorf Astoria is offering a tiered package structure designed to extend the revenue opportunity across multiple nights. The "Perfect Match" overnight package pairs two event tickets with accommodations and breakfast at Lex Yard. The top-tier "Stay, Spectate & Play" two-night suite package adds a private one-hour tennis clinic on the Grand Ballroom court with a touring ATP or WTA player, a Guerlain Wellness Spa treatment, and commemorative amenities. A Champions' Grand Ballroom Tennis Clinic add-on, available August 28, offers on-court play for two guests with a top player.
Hilton Honors American Express Consumer and Business Card Members can access exclusive packages redeemable through Hilton Honors Points via Hilton Honors Experiences. Five percent of net sales proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, with the Hilton Global Foundation matching that contribution — part of a broader Hilton partnership with the organization focused on mentorship and hospitality career access for young people.
A Platform, Not Just an Event
Waldorf Astoria is positioning the Invitational as the opening chapter of a multi-destination, multi-season program. The brand already operates racquet facilities across its portfolio — professional-grade tennis and padel courts at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, clay courts at Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and beachside tennis at Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah. A pop-up Racquet Club experience in Sydney is planned ahead of the August event.
For the hospitality and foodservice industry, the Racquet Club platform signals how luxury hotel brands are using sport-and-lifestyle programming to create recurring, scalable revenue streams that go well beyond the event itself — driving room nights, restaurant covers, spa bookings, and loyalty engagement simultaneously. The Grand Ballroom has hosted the first Tony Awards, early Met Galas, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. On August 27, it adds live tennis to that list.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
