A bad remake of 1970s NYC
The Helmsley's lack of service and it's repair standard is a replay of the stereotypes of 1970s New York - arrogant while in a state of decay and denial. 
The doormen don't open doors for luggage-laden guests. The front desk clerk denies the room rate includes breakfast, as promised by Expedia; the guest is required to email the hotel manager with proof of Expedia's offer, and the manager does not reply. 
A guest is woken in the wee predawn hours by the noxious odor of smoking, although a non-smoking floor is guaranteed in the rate and the guest requested at check-in to be far from any smoking floors; in fact, the smoking floor is one below and no attempt is made to creat a vapor barrier. 
The night manager is haughty and disdainful that the guest is upset about being denied a night's sleep. "It's not the hotel's fault you've been woken up," says Mr. Velasquez, the night manger. He refuses any kind of financial compensation for the hotel's failure to deliver the basic quid pro quo of a decent night's sleep. He reluctantly offers a new room, but it takes 25 minutes for such to be arranged, and then the new room keys delivered do not work. 
I have traveled the world on business, for three decades, and frequently to New York. The Helmsley Park Lane is easily the worst hotel experience I've had.