Photo Courtesy of the Borough President’s Office
The new hotel, expected to open in late 2018, will have 505 guest rooms and 40,000 square-feet of event and meeting space.
By Forum Staff
Elected state and city officials joined investors last Thursday at John F. Kennedy International Airport to break ground on the TWA Flight Center Hotel.
The $265 million conversion plan sets out to transform the storied Eero Saarinen-designed TWA terminal, which has been shuttered since 2001, into the centerpiece of a 505-room hotel.
“JFK Airport is one of the largest international transit hubs in the world and a key driver of New York’s economy,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “The conversion of the TWA Flight Center into a new state-of-the-art hotel will preserve this iconic landmark while cementing JFK’s status as a crown jewel of aviation. This groundbreaking builds on our efforts to modernize gateways across the state and we will continue working to drive growth, support thriving regional economies and build 21st century infrastructure of the caliber that New York deserves.”
The privately funded project is expected to generate 3,700 jobs, including union construction and hotel opportunities. Under an agreement approved by the Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners, a partnership of hotel investment firm MCR Development and JetBlue Airways will remake the TWA Flight Center, with MCR and JetBlue retaining 95 and 5 percent ownership of the facility, respectively.
“All great endeavors start with a vision and initiative,” said State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach). “JFK Airport is a major hub in our borough and my district, not only for transportation but for retail, restaurants, tourism and all the other industries that operate at the airport. With the groundbreaking of the new hotel at JFK – keeping one eye on the current potential of the airport and the other eye on the future – this new destination stands for new jobs and economic growth. I thank our Governor, [MCR Managing Partner and CEO] Tyler Morse and others for being the guiding force on creating this new hotel site and for having a positive vision for New York’s future.”
Featuring LEED design, according to the administration, the hotel complex will be set back on either side of the terminal, situated and designed to defer to the historic landmark. Hotel guests and passengers from every terminal will be able to reach the TWA Hotel via the AirTrain as well as through the Saarinen passenger tubes that connect directly to Terminal 5. The hotel will contain 40,000 square-feet of meeting and event space; a 10,000 square-foot observation deck where guests can watch planes take off and land; and eight food and beverage outlets, including the revived Ambassador’s Club, Lisbon Lounge and Paris Cafe. Construction will be managed by Turner Construction Company.
“The iconic TWA Flight Center Hotel at JFK Airport is an invaluable investment in the borough of Queens, and will offer a unique experience for international visitors and New Yorkers alike,” said Borough President Melinda Katz. “The magic of the Jet Age will soon be relived in one of the world’s most famous mid-century historic icons, replete with guest rooms and 40,000 square-feet of event and meeting space. Queens thanks Governor Cuomo for his vision and leadership on revitalizing our airports, and we look forward to welcoming the hotel’s 3,700 permanent and construction jobs.”
The hotel project was first announced by Cuomo in July and is expected to open in 2018.
