by Shane Henson — August 15, 2011—Marriott International, Inc., and ownership group Granite Broadway Development have announced a signed franchise agreement to develop the Courtyard and Residence Inn Manhattan/Central Park, a 68-story property housing two distinctly different hotels. Marriott International’s leadership say the building will rise approximately 752 feet, making it the tallest stand-alone hotel building—without office or residential space—in New York.
The 378-room Courtyard by Marriott will offer the brand’s signature “refreshing business” lobby, featuring bright contemporary design, innovative technology, and flexible space. The redefined area reportedly allows guests more control and choice over their stay, with services and amenities that create a healthy balance between working and relaxing. A signature element of the new lobby is the exclusive GoBoard technology, a 55-inch LCD interactive touch screen packed with local information, maps, and weather, as well as news, business and sports headlines.
A leader in the extended stay category, Residence Inn prides itself on offering guests a unique personalized experience that helps them thrive while on the road on long stays. The new 261-room Residence Inn by Marriott will feature suites with kitchens, providing zones for travelers to spread out and maintain their routines while away from home. Services such as daily complimentary full breakfast, free high-speed Internet, grocery delivery, laundry facilities and weekly manager social hours all add to Residence Inn’s promise of making guests feel cared for and comfortable, Marriott’s leadership says.
The hotels will share a main entrance and arrival lobby on 54th Street, with public areas for the Residence Inn on the third floor and for the Courtyard on the fourth floor. Guest rooms for the Courtyard will be located on floors 6 through 32, and for Residence Inn on floors 36 through 64, with separate elevator banks to serve the guestrooms and public areas for each brand.
In addition to ground floor retail space, a leased restaurant will occupy the second floor, and a fifth-floor lounge and terrace with outdoor seating is designed to have a great view overlooking Broadway. Both hotels will share a fitness facility on the 34th floor. The combined hotel will surely be seeking top facilities personnel to manage and maintain the impressive structure.
