Who knew when the city lifted the beekeeping ban in March 2010 that bees would be taking up residence at some of the city's poshest hotels?

Later this month, the Waldorf Astoria will join a handful of its peers—including its neighbor The InterContinental New York Barclay—and begin raising honey bees. It will start with 45,000 and aims to have 300,000 bees by the end of the summer.

The historic property, known as the inn of choice for heads of state, is installing six beehives in a rooftop space on the 20th floor that will also serve as a chef's garden.

“We look forward to eventually housing enough bees to not only aid the environment but also supply fresh honey in the hotel's food and beverage outlets,” General Manager Eric Long said, in a statement.

Not to be one-upped, his counterpart at the InterContinental, Herve Houdre, said he was aware of the plan and that his hotel will have more bees, or seven hives to be exact, and one that will be used for observation. The InterContinental's beehives are on the roof of the 15th floor, where the hotel also maintains an herb garden.

The Waldorf Astoria's director of culinary operations, David Garcelon, is spearheading the initiative and said he wants to incorporate the honey produced by his bees into dishes served at the hotel's restaurants.