The nearly 800-room Crowne Plaza Times Square closed several weeks ago, and is expected to re-open over the summer as Hyatt Regency Times Square. They are currently accepting reservations starting September 1.
Unless I specifically needed to be in the Times Square area, you couldn’t pay me to stay in Times Square. The property is at 1605 Broadway between 48th and 49th.
TripAdvisor reviewers complain of noise both from outside and down hallways, of lackluster service, and outdated decor. Guests also complain about the property’s destination fees and heating and cooling issues. Hopefully things improve.
The property had been in significant litigation and the hotel remained closed for some time after the pandemic. Publicly traded SL Green, which owned a portion of the land under 1605 Broadway, accused Argent Ventures of turning the property (including the hotel) into a “zombie building” by collecting rental income from the office and retail tenants while neglecting financial obligations such as taxes, utilities, and rent. SL Green sought a court-appointed receiver to manage the property, reopen the hotel, and ensure bills and ground rent were paid. Argent had acquired the debt on the building at a steep discount after Vornado Realty Trust defaulted on about $500 million in loans.
Argent prevailed. The property, which occupies floors 15-46 of the building, re-opened in November 2022. And they’ve been trying to get out of their IHG franchise agreement ever since, complaining about costs.
Hyatt is overindexed on New York City properties, and their footprint is weak in many markets. This is the last portfolio addition I’d hope for. If it were a category 4 property, eligible for redemption with myriad free night awards that World of Hyatt members earn, that would be a plus. But it will be category 6.
As an IHG property it was known as a relatively cheap stay, but also one that largely ignored program benefits like Diamond benefits and upgrades. We’ll see how things work for them at Hyatt. Some will certainly try to lock in New Years Eve stays on points.
@Gary Agreed with you–so many better places to stay in the city. There are even better places to stay…in Times Square–The Edition, for one. Hyatt, or the actual owner, had better actually renovate this hotel, not just ‘re-brand’ it.
I stayed there a while back since the rates were so cheap (under $200 a night) and I had business in the area. It was absolutely horrible. Stains on bedding and torn and stained carpeting (giant sections). I thought I was doing my company a favor by staying there and using their corporate rate. Has the property been renovated in recent years? If not, will Hyatt incentivize them to do so?
This is at least the fourth Crowne Plaza to become a Hyatt Regency over the last 1 or 2 years. Three in London and now this one in New York. Absent a renovation, however, I’m not sure how nice this will be since Crowne Plaza tends to be a bottom feeder brand and it far worse than Sheraton.
Will this be a Hyatt-operated property?
@FNT Delta Diamond
Did you just ask whether the ‘Hyatt Regency Times Square’ will be operated by Hyatt??
Read that again, slowly.
@1990, within any given hotel chain, there are two types of properties: those directly managed by the company (e.g. “Hyatt-operated”), and those that are franchised and operated by a third party. You won’t know the difference just by looking at the name; both kinds will just be called “Hyatt Regency [name of city/area].”
Hotels that are directly managed by the chain tend to be much better in terms of providing benefits, often going above and beyond, while franchised properties tend to do the bare minimum required by the program (or less, if they think they can get away with it). So it’s relevant in predicting how much potential value one might get out of a stay there.
The Crowne Plaza was managed by Highgate. Highgate has a mixed portfolio of limited-service properties (like Hampton Inn and Courtyard) and independents. Not a lot of chain-branded full-service properties. Their only one Hyatt Regency is the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA.
https://www.hospitalityonline.com/highgate-hotels/locations
@Chris W.
I am well-aware. I was just giving @FNT Delta Diamond a hard time.
Since you bring it up, I’ve followed Gary’s other posts where he writes with ‘great passion’ on the properties that are ‘mismanaged’ by franchises like HEI Hotels & Resorts, Aimbridge, and DiamondRock.
So hopefully it is not operated by any of them, because that would be a horrible sign.
Yup, them IHG boys are an odd bunch, not surprised the CP has had so many issues I’ve never stayed there, because I’m the same as Gary, you couldn’t pay me to spend any time down there.