Marriott unveils plans to open New York's tallest hotel

(Marriott)

Global hotel chain Marriott has announced plans to build the tallest hotel in New York City.

The brand, which operates 3,600 hotels around the world, plans to build a new 68-story skyscraper on Manhattan's 54th Street to house two hotels under the brands Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn.

The tower will be designed by Nobutaka Ashihara, an established New York architect who designed Lexington House Hotel, Hotel Indigo on 28th Street and Courtyard by Marriott Times Square, and is set to be 752 feet (229 meters) high.

The 378-room Courtyard hotel will occupy the lower floors, while guests for the 261-room Residence Inn will stay on floors 36 through 64, although both hotels will have separate banks of elevators in the arrival lobby on 54th Street.

The second floor will be given over to a restaurant, while the fifth floor will offer a lounge and terrace with an outdoor seating area that overlooks Broadway.

A shared fitness center for both hotels will be offered on the fourth floor, Marriott said August 10.

Courtyard is a mid-scale hotel brand and Residence Inn is Marriott's extended-stay offering, so guests in the upper hotel will have access to kitchens and other "homely" amenities - although those wanting a more upscale experience may be better off staying at the nearby Ritz-Carlton.

New York has seen a flurry of new high-rise hotels over the past year, with InterContinental, W Hotels and Yotel all opening up in skyscrapers.

http://www.marriott.com