Never choose this hotel - It really is that bad !
Let me start by saying that I have travelled extensively and stayed in hotels all over the world, from 3rd world to 1st world and this is by far the worst hotel I have ever ever stayed in.
It exists solely because of it's location opposite Madison Square Garden.
On arrival the lobby was extremely crowded with huge queues for check in, OK I can except that, there was a major dog show happening at the garden and they had a lot to contend with, what is completely unacceptable is the surly attitude from the staff, but I could even excuse that due to the stress of the amount of dogs and people they were trying to manage.
What is completely unacceptable is after leaving the lobby (which looks great) and getting out of the elevator onto my floor, finding carpets torn walls scraped, fixtures hanging off the walls, carpets stained (and I haven't even made it to my room yet).
The room was small, even by NYC standards, it should have had 2 queen beds and instead we got 2 beds that were slightly smaller than a regular double. The walls had holes, the carpet had stains, everything looked and felt dirty. The sheets had cigarette burns in them.
I can honestly say I have stayed in slum hotels in China and India and left feeling cleaner than staying at the Hotel Pennsylvania, I am amazed they get passed by the NYC health authority.
The only thing this hotel has going for it is the location for Madison Square Garden.
Take my advise, choose the Hotel Affinia one block down, it is about 1000 times better.
Oh, and to the owners / manager of the Pennsylvania, why not save money on printing special room keys for dog shows and putting your name on the city maps and put that money into renovating this complete dump?
If I had been showing my dog I would have walked out, because it was not fit for their paws !