MARRIOTT, GRANITE BROADWAY TO DEVELOP NYC’S TALLEST HOTEL BUILDING

NEW YORK CITY — Marriott International, Inc. and Granite Broadway Development have signed a franchise agreement to develop New York City’s tallest hotel — the Courtyard and Residence Inn Manhattan/Central Park. The 68-story development will house two hotels: Courtyard’s 378-room hotel and Residence Inn’s 261-room hotel. Designed by architect Nobutaka Ashihara, the new hotel building will rise 752 feet, making it the tallest stand-alone hotel building without office or residential space in New York City. The hotels will share a main entrance and a fitness center on the 34th floor, but Courtyard guests will stay on floors six through 32 and Residence Inn guests will stay on floors 36 through 64. There will be a restaurant on the second floor and a lounge and terrace with outdoor seating on the fifth floor. The project is slated for a late 2013 opening and will be managed by Interstate Hotels and Resorts.