Starwood Surpasses Marriott In Manhattan W/ Westin Times Square

The opening today of the 863-room Westin New York Times Square makes Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which manages the property, the largest operator of hotel rooms in the competitive Manhattan lodging market with more than 6,000 rooms.

At the opening ceremonies, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg noted that the hotel, located at Eighth Avenue and 43 Street, is the largest hotel property to be built in the city in 17 years. With 34,000 square feet of meeting space, the hotel provides an additional option in Manhattan for meeting planners, as well as for travel buyers seeking additional coverage in the midtown Manhattan submarket. The Westin's debut also marks the culmination of a 10-year redevelopment of the once seedy Times Square neighborhood into both an entertainment and business destination.