NEW YORK -- The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park, opened on Jan.
29, roughly six blocks from ground zero.
The event marked the return of the luxury brand to Manhattan
after a four-year absence and a milestone in lower Manhattan's
economic renewal since Sept. 11.
At the ribbon cutting of the $210 million, mixed-use property,
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, "God knows we need the 350
jobs here that the hotel is creating."
Simon Cooper, president of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., said
"We're especially thrilled to be back at this location, at this
time."
Other high-profile guests at the event included former mayor
Rudolph Giuliani, New York Yankees manager Joe Torre and Marriott
chairman J.W. Marriott.
The hotel's 298 guest rooms include 43 suites, starting from
$565 for a harborview junior suite, and one Ritz-Carlton suite,
$4,500 per night.
A total 172 rooms -- or 58% -- overlook New York Harbor and most
offer views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Cranes on the former site of the World Trade Center can
sometimes be seen from cityview rooms, a spokesman said.
The harborview rooms are equipped with telescopes for scanning
the harbor, a feature that prompted Marriott to quip, "I guarantee
you, after being in the rooms, the only things you can see are the
Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the boats crossing the Hudson
River. No other rooms to look into, I'm sorry."
Giuliani concluded, "I will do everything I can to encourage
people to come to the hotel with the greatest view in the entire
world, a view synonymous with our freedom and with the immigrants
that came to America."
Through the end of March, introductory rates at the Ritz-Carlton
New York, Battery Park start at $325 during the week and at $199 on
weekends.
After that, rates will start at $465 for a city view and at $525
for a harbor view.
In April, a second Manhattan hotel, the Ritz-Carlton New York,
Central Park will open at Central Park South and Sixth Avenue.