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Wednesday, Jun 6, 2012 7:15 AM UTC

Posh hotels are buzzing with tiny new guests: bees

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Posh hotels are buzzing with tiny new guests: beesWaldorf Astoria hotel sous chef Josh Bierman inspects honey bees residing in hives on the hotel's 20th floor roof in New York, Tuesday, June 5, 2012. The hotel, a favorite of numerous U.S. presidents, plans to harvest its own honey and help pollinate plants in the skyscraper-heavy heart of the city, joining a mini beekeeping boom that has taken over hotel rooftops from Paris to Times Square. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)(Credit: AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Honeybees have taken up residence at some of the poshest hotels in New York City and elsewhere.

The Waldorf-Astoria New York plans to harvest its own honey and help pollinate plants in the city, joining a mini beekeeping boom that has taken over hotel rooftops from Paris to Times Square.

The bees arrived at the Waldorf in April and reside on the 20th floor roof deck. There are six hives. The most mature one already has 20,000 bees.

The Waldorf’s first batch of honey is expected be ready for harvest by early summer. The hotel’s executive chef has been experimenting with honey-infused recipes.

The Intercontinental New York Times Square recently installed its first beehive. And in Paris, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which has a hive, plans to hand out little honey pots as gifts for guests.

More Meghan Barr.

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