When I had heard that there were plans to open a new hotel in the shadows of Ground Zero I was intrigued. I mean it has been nearly nine years since the tragic events of 9/11 and barely anything has been built where the World Trade Center once stood. I was given a complimentary stay at the much talked about World Center Hotel over TBEX weekend, which is the first hotel to open by the World Trade Center location in over a decade. Here is my review.
Walking up to 144 Washington Street you realize that this hotel is literally neighbors with the Ground Zero site. Upon entering the hotel you are greeted immediately by the front desk staff as the lobby has placed them just steps from the front doors.
The lobby has a very hip and modern design. I had no idea this hotel was owned and operated by Club Quarters, which is a collection of private, full service hotels for member organizations designed for the business travelers during the work week and families on weekends, until I was handed my key card. Interesting that once you’re at the hotel the CQ logo appears often.
Front lobby at World Center Hotel in New York
After a quick explanation of the property’s amenities and features, which includes complimentary wireless internet access (woo hoo!), I was on my way to check out the hotel room. World Center was kind enough to let me check into their one room suite.
The first impression I had upon opening the room’s door was “oooh nice…and small.” Hey this is a Club Quarters owned hotel, so I should have expected the rooms to be miniature sized. Now don’t get me wrong, the suite had plenty of room for two to possibly three guests and was in no way comparable to other 4-star suites I have visited. But even with a lack of space the room was overall a winner.
World Center Hotel Suite
Amenities in the suite include one queen size bed or two double beds, a sofa bed in the living room area, a kitchenette chock full of utensils, mugs and plates, an iPod docking station with alarm clock, flat screen television mounted on the wall, eco-friendly bathroom fixtures and an electric bedside touch screen temperature control (a first for me at a hotel). Plus as I mentioned earlier, complimentary in-room high-speed internet access is available for people like yours truly that would like to be connected without paying a fee.
Since the hotel is trying to make the most of the small space, some unique features include a bathroom with just a shower and toilet (the sink is outside the bathroom against the wall). Irons and ironing boards are in the hallway closet, so just help yourself.
Thirsty? Then head out to the hallway for a glass of cold filtered bottled water as each floor has a station ready to hydrate visitors. Hungry? The hotel offers complimentary continental breakfast, has a restaurant on the 20th floor( which I did not visit) and the room has a list of local restaurant’s menus and phone numbers in case you want a little taste of the Big Apple.
World Center Hotel living room space with Ground Zero outside the window.
The view from the living room is stunning as you have a bird’s eye view overlooking the construction site of Ground Zero. I was on one of the higher floors and stood many times by the window just looking down at the workers breaking their backs constructing what will someday be a memorial for those lost nearly a decade ago.
Rates range depending on the time of the year you’re visiting and what kind of room you are booking, but I found prices at the World Center Hotel to fall in line with most of their competitors and on some dates lower than expected (for example a search over September 11th weekend saw rooms as low as $279 a night for a Friday stay and $299 for a Saturday stay).
For more information check out the World Center Hotel official website.
