The decision to divide the space between the two brands was a strategic one. “They are two distinct products that appeal to two different kinds of stays,” said Arne Sorenson, president and CEO of Marriott International at a press conference.
Floors that aren’t occupied by guest rooms are shared spaces — a fitness center on the 35th floor, a cafe on the 4th, and meeting and event spaces.
Rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott will cost $300 per night and up and prices at the all-suite Residence Inn will be $350 and up. Both are higher price points than the brands’ other hotels around the city. The decision to charge more is due to the enviable location near both Times Square and Central Park, said Harry Gross, president and CEO of G Holdings, the real estate development company behind the project.
“It’s an A+ location,” said Sorenson. Located on the corner of 54th and Broadway, many rooms have at least partial views of Central Park.
But being the tallest single-use hotel in the nation wasn’t the intention. “It didn’t occur to us until after we finished,” said Gross. “The height was the maximum the square footage could support.”