NEW YORK -- Hilton Hotels Corp. took the wraps off two New York
hotels on June 6: the Hilton Times Square and the Embassy Suites at
Battery Park City.
Both hotels are part of larger, mixed-use complexes developed by
Forest City Ratner Cos., an affiliate of Cleveland real estate
developer Forest City Enterprises. Hilton and Forest City Ratner
Cos. jointly own both hotels. The properties total more than 900
rooms.
Stephen Bollenbach, president and chief executive officer of
Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Hilton, indicated that the hotels were
well placed.
New York is "the very best hotel city in the U.S., and therefore
the world, Bollenbach said."
Located on 42nd Street between Times Square and Eighth Avenue,
the Hilton Times Square was a tricky piece of engineering. The
property was built on top of an existing movie theater, and
consequently the lobby is on the 21st floor.
The hotel's 444 guest rooms top off at the 44th floor; the
hotel's height means that every room has a broad view of the
city.
The Hilton Times Square also has six meeting rooms with a total
of 6,000 square feet of meeting space. Apparently, the hotel will
leave the big conventions to the nearby Hilton New York.
The Hilton Times Square was initially intended to be a
Doubletree, but, following last year's acquisition of Promus,
Hilton decided to put its own brand on the hotel.
Times Square is one of the busiest hotel markets in the city,
and Hilton did not have a hotel in the area in its own name.
Other area hotels include Crowne Plaza, Novotel, Renaissance, a
Doubletree Guest Suites (a Hilton brand) and several independent
properties.
In addition, Starwood will manage a Westin in the Times Square
area, and the hotel, soon to break ground, is set to open in 2003
and will be located across the street from the Hilton Times
Square.
Things aren't as crowded downtown, where the Embassy Suites at
Battery Park City is located. The 463-suite hotel is part of a
large, mixed-use complex that includes movie theaters and retail
space.
Hilton claims it is the only upscale, all-suite property in
downtown Manhattan.
Since both hotels are completely new properties they feature the
usual high-tech amenities such as data ports and high-speed
Internet access.
Also, Hilton and Forest City Ratner Cos. worked with the Public
Art Fund, a nonprofit organization that seeks to put art in public
places, to decorate the hotels.
The most noticeable commissioned work is an 11-story mural,
called "Loopy Doopy," that decorates the atrium of the Embassy
Suites at Battery Park City.