The Westin New York at Times Square

The Westin New York at Times Square
Name	The Westin New York at Times Square
Location	270 West 43rd Street, Manhattan, New York City, United States
Opened	1988
Operator	Marriott International
Number of rooms	844
Floors	35

The Westin New York at Times Square is a large upscale hotel located in Midtown Manhattan near Times Square, part of the hospitality portfolio associated with Marriott International and its Westin brand. The property occupies a high-rise block near Broadway and Seventh Avenue and has hosted a mix of business travelers, tourists, and cultural attendees since the late 20th century. It sits amid iconic New York City landmarks and serves as a hub for conventions, theatergoers, and corporate visitors.

History

The hotel's opening in 1988 followed redevelopment trends linked to the revitalization efforts around Times Square and Midtown Manhattan during the administrations of Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani, intersecting with private investments from firms connected to real estate groups active in Manhattan in the 1980s and 1990s. Its lifetime has overlapped with events such as the 1990s economic expansion, the aftermath of September 11 attacks, and the hospitality market shifts during the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. Ownership and financing transactions involved entities from the commercial sectors tied to firms known in transactions similar to those of Blackstone Group, Host Hotels & Resorts, and other institutional investors. The property has periodically undergone renovations reflecting trends promoted by chains like Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide before its merger with Marriott International.

Architecture and design

The tower's exterior reflects late-20th-century skyscraper design common to projects adjacent to Times Square and Broadway Theatre District, drawing on materials and massing seen near landmarks such as One Times Square and The New Amsterdam Theatre. The interior design has been updated with schemes influenced by hospitality design practices favored by brands like Westin Hotels & Resorts and firms that have worked for clients including Hilton Worldwide and InterContinental Hotels Group. Public spaces reference theatrical and commercial aesthetics present in Manhattan Plaza and echo motifs used in nearby properties such as The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City and The Knickerbocker Hotel. Architectural consultants and interior studios involved in comparable projects have collaborated with municipal review bodies like the New York City Department of Buildings and development programs tied to New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Amenities and services

The hotel offers a range of guest rooms and suites similar to amenities promoted by major chains, including features akin to those marketed by Marriott International, Westin Hotels & Resorts, and peer brands such as Sheraton Hotels and Resorts and Ritz-Carlton. Onsite services traditionally include meeting and event spaces used by organizations comparable to Meeting Professionals International, dining outlets that mirror restaurant operations near Times Square Studios, fitness facilities in the vein of offerings by Equinox Fitness and spas resembling those at Mandarin Oriental, New York. Concierge services interact with cultural institutions like Broadway theatres, Radio City Music Hall, the Museum of Modern Art, and transportation hubs such as Penn Station and John F. Kennedy International Airport, coordinating guest itineraries akin to partnerships seen between hotels and entities like Tourism New York.

Location and transportation

Situated on West 43rd Street, the property is within walking distance of Times Square–42nd Street/Port Authority Bus Terminal transit complex, the Broadway theatre district, and landmarks such as Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, Carnegie Hall, and the New York Public Library. Access to subway lines paralleling corridors serving Manhattan connects guests to points including Wall Street, Battery Park City, Chelsea, Central Park, and Columbus Circle. Ground transportation options reflect proximity to services provided at hubs like Port Authority Bus Terminal and airports including LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, with connections via providers similar to MTA Regional Bus Operations and private shuttle operators.

Events and notable guests

The hotel has hosted corporate meetings, film and theater-related gatherings, and hospitality events attracting producers, performers, and executives associated with institutions such as The Broadway League, Producers Guild of America, and media outlets like ABC Television Network, CBS, and NBC. Notable guests over the years have included touring artists and actors who worked on productions at venues like Radio City Music Hall, Lyric Theatre (Broadway), and Shubert Theatre, as well as business leaders affiliated with firms headquartered in New York City such as Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase. The property has accommodated delegations linked to cultural festivals like the Tribeca Film Festival and industry events similar to New York Fashion Week.

Ownership and management

Management has been under brand operators connected to Westin Hotels & Resorts and, following corporate consolidation, to Marriott International after the Marriott–Starwood merger. Ownership structures have involved real estate investment entities and institutional owners resembling portfolios managed by firms like BlackRock, Brookfield Asset Management, and public real estate investment trusts such as Host Hotels & Resorts. Transactions and asset management practices have aligned with financial institutions similar to Goldman Sachs and legal frameworks overseen by authorities including the New York State Department of State for incorporation and property records.

In popular culture

The hotel's proximity to Times Square and the Broadway theatre district has placed it within the orbit of productions, photo shoots, and media coverage involving outlets such as Variety (magazine), The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Hollywood Reporter. It has appeared in travel coverage alongside profiles of Manhattan hotels featured by publications like Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, and has served as accommodation for talent participating in productions in venues like Radio City Music Hall and the Winter Garden Theatre.

Category:Hotels in Manhattan Category:Skyscraper hotels in New York City