Legionella scare at Chelsea’s High Line Hotel as staff allege employer muzzled warnings to guests

The High Line Hotel in Chelsea tested positive for Legionella, with an initial 170 cfu/ml reading later rising to 700 cfu/ml after remediation. The Hotel & Gaming Trades Council says management resisted proof of remediation and threatened discipline against workers who tried to warn guests, while staff wore N95 masks and guests reportedly received little, if any, notice or refunds. The issue ties to NYC’s broader Legionnaires’ outbreak linked to cooling towers, and the hotel’s operator, MCR, has a history of cooling-tower violations across its New York properties. The city Health Department said it acted to ensure safety and that guests can continue using building systems; NYC has 92 confirmed Legionella cases and seven deaths so far this year.