Marriott opens tallest hotel in the US
Marriott has announced the official opening of its latest property, which becomes the tallest single-use hotel in North America.
Located in Midtown Manhattan New York City, the $320 million project is a unique dual-brand concept and houses a 378-room Courtyard hotel and 261-suite Residence Inn hotel under one roof.
The 68-story building, located a stroll away from Central Park, is owned by G Holdings and managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
The opening coincides with surging demand for hotel space in New York.
In 2013 city occupancy rates were at 85% with average room rates of $254, among the highest in the country according to analysts Smith Travel Research.
The two hotels share an entrance and lobby along with 6,000 square feet of meeting space and a fitness center.
The Courtyard hotel’s target market is leisure and business travellers, while Residence Inn rooms are aimed at longer-staying guests.
Speaking at the official launch Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson said: "I am certain either one of them would have done fine on their own but here you’ve got an A-plus location, with two distinct products that will appeal to two distinct kinds of stays."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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