MARRIOTT OPENS THE TALLEST HOTEL IN NORTH AMERICA IN NEW YORK CITY SO STAY THERE WHEN YOU ARE NEXT IN THE BIG APPLE AS THE NEW COURTYARD HOTEL (OWNED AND MANAGED BY MARRIOTT) IS SOMETHING TO WRITE (I MEAN EMAIL) HOME ABOUT!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM Courtyard is the affordable version of Marriott while JW Marriott is the most expensive and exclusive Marriott hotel under the stable. So if you are not wading in cash, try Courtyard which is almost as good as Marriott but so much cheaper your banker will pat you on your back. Its location cannot be beaten as it is steps from 5th Avenue where I spend all my waking hours when in New York City!  MARRIOTT OPENS NORTH AMERICA’S TALLEST HOTEL IN NEW YORK CITY 68 STORIES, TWO BRANDS, ONE ICONIC HOTEL  Marriott International and G Holdings announced the opening of an iconic addition to the New York City skyline. The $320 million tallest single-use hotel in North America combines the 378-room Courtyard hotel with the 261-suite Residence Inn hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Built and owned by G Holdings and managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the dual-branded hotel will provide employment for 160 associates in the New York area. Located at 1717 Broadway, the impressive 68-story building is just steps from Central Park and Times Square.  The hotels offer guests convenient access to Carnegie Hall, the Broadway Theater District, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. As one of the top travel destinations in the world, New York City welcomed 54.3 million visitors in 2013. Senior vice president of Modern Essentials and Extended Stay for Marriott International, Janis Milham stated: “This opening is a prime example of an ideal dual-branded hotel. Thank you to our long-time partner, Harry Gross and his family, this will surely be both brands’ crown jewel. The new hotels’ contemporary designs and stunning views coupled with our friendly associates will surely make the property a great ambassador for the bustling city.” Ideal for visitors to New York City, the hotels offer valet parking and share 6,000 square feet of meeting space, a fitness center located on the 35th floor with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor sundeck for stretching, relaxing or seasonal sunning. Some guest rooms also feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering spectacular views of Central Park, Times Square and the Hudson River. President & Chief Executive Officer of G Holdings, Harry Gross said: “We brought the first Courtyard by Marriott to Times Square, in the center of Manhattan in 1998, and these new hotels, the Residence Inn Central Park and Courtyard by Marriott Central Park, are the most innovative hotels we’ve built to date.” “In addition to fabulous views, a stellar New York City location and amenities galore, our 21st century telecommunications, with free international phone calls, digital systems and hi-tech wiring, set these hotels far above the standard that business travelers and tourists expect.  We are proud to introduce these spectacular hotels to New York City,” Gross added. Groundbreaking artwork, which includes breathtaking sculptures to full wall murals throughout the hotel by renowned abstract expressionist artist, William DeBilzan creates a unique, new experience for travelers staying at the hotel. The artwork traverses five floors of the hotel and is inspired by New York City, as well as themes of love and life. Whether traveling on business or pleasure, guests will enjoy the complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. In addition, each room delivers 1.25 gigabytes of bandwidth with horizontal and vertical fiber optical cable network that allows for fast, extensive use on multiple devices at one time. Smart TVs offer 60 HD channels. About The Courtyard by MarriottHoused on floors 6-33, the Courtyard hotel guest rooms feature modern design with a contemporary feel. The room design offers hybrid zones for working, sleeping, relaxing and getting ready. Large windows offer natural lighting and the chosen color palette of the walls and bedding offer a soothing and calm environment. An upgraded and spacious layout creates an enhanced bathroom experience. “The Bistro,” Courtyard’s popular food and beverage offering, serves up casual, flexible seating; easy access to food and higher quality, healthier menu options for breakfast; and light evening fare, including snacks, cocktails, wine and beer, for guests to unwind. Local beer and wine products will be featured to allow travelers a taste of the Big Apple. Courtyard’s award-winning touch-screen concierge, GoBoard® 4.0, provides local information, maps, weather and headline news on a 55-inch, LCD screen. Guests also can also obtain immediate access to detailed flight information for local airports, popular entertainment and local event information, as well as walking directions. About The Residence Inn by MarriottThe Residence Inn hotel is situated on floors 37-65 and offers studio suites designed for stays of five nights or more. Each suite has a custom designed kitchenette with a coffeemaker, microwave oven and custom appliances. Residence Inn’s complimentary breakfast has a variety of great options, including specially made featured items. Guests can start their day off right with healthy food choices and, with a convenient to-go offering, can make sure they do not miss the most important meal of the day. Extending the feeling of comfortable living on the road, the hotel offers guests inviting and functional public spaces to relax or collaborate. Road warriors and families alike enjoy the hotel’s grocery delivery service, dry cleaning services, and onsite guest laundry room. The hotel’s weeknight evening gatherings offer a casual, relaxing environment where guests can be as social as they want, while enjoying light fare. Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn participate in Marriott International’s award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information or reservations, contact the hotels directly at 212-324-3773-4, callthe Residence Inn toll-free number at 800-331-3131, the Courtyard toll-free number at 800-321-2211 or visit www.residenceinn.comor www.couryard.com  For travel tips, the latest on the brand or to connect with other travelers, “like” Residence Inn on Facebook: www.facebook.com/residenceinn, and follow Residence Inn on Twitter: www.twitter.com/residenceinn or become a fan at www.facebook.com/courtyard or follow Courtyard at www.twitter.com/courtyardhotels. About G HoldingsG Holdings is a dynamic 40-year-old real estate development firm with its roots in the fashion industry and a proven record of bold innovation and financial success in the hotel industry. Led by Harry Gross and his sons, Ron and Etai, the Gross Family have completed ground-up construction of five Marriott branded hotels in New York City, with a sixth Marriott hotel underway. Among its hotel developments include the Courtyard by Marriott Times Square in 1998, the first new construction Courtyard in New York City; the Courtyard by Marriott at JFK International Airport; the Residence Inn Philadelphia Center City by Marriott; the Residence Inn by Marriott Times Square; and the Marriott Ghent, the first Marriott property in the heart of Ghent, Belgium. About Interstate Hotels & ResortsInterstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of a 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Thayer Lodging Group and Jin Jiang Hotels, is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, operating branded full- and select-service hotels and resorts, convention centers and independent hotels worldwide.  Interstate and its affiliates manage 386 hotels with more than 73,000 rooms in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, with ownership interest in 36 hotels. In addition, Interstate has executed agreements to manage 37 hotels with nearly 7,500 rooms under construction or development throughout the world.  For more information, please visit www.interstatehotels.com. The impressive 68-story building is just steps from Central Park and Times Square A combined 378-room Courtyard hotel and 261-suite Residence Inn hotel in Midtown Manhattan Marriott opens North America’s Tallest Hotel in New York City.