Tempo by Hilton Brand Makes its Debut in New York City’s Times Square

“There is no better place to launch a Hilton brand than in New York City,” said Danny Hughes, president. Americas, for the company, speaking at the opening ceremony for the Tempo by Hilton Times Square, the first location for the new lifestyle brand. Hughes said that Conrad Hilton, founder of the company, visited New York in 1934, stayed in the Waldorf-Astoria and vowed to buy it one day – which he did. Today, said Hughes, Hilton has 52 hotels open in New York with 16 in development

Kevin Morgan, global brand head for Tempo by Hilton, said the brand concept began on a piece of paper in 2018 and has been the subject of meticulous planning since then. He said the second one would open shortly in Nashville with 34 in the pipeline, including in Raleigh, Louisville and San Diego.

With the debut of Tempo by Hilton Times Square, as well as the upcoming openings of Motto by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hampton by Hilton in Times Square, Hilton will add nearly 2,000 rooms in the tourism hub this summer.

According to Matthew Slippoy, general manager, Tempo by Hilton Times Square is part of a complex that includes the historic Palace Theatre which had been on street level but was raised by 30 feet as part of the development. A prominent feature are 31 “Ball Drop View ” rooms, which will enable guests to see the famed ball drop on New Year’s Eve from the comfort of their beds, “drinking a glass of champagne.” The most spectacular view is from the Presidential Suite, which features a stylish living area, dining room and kitchenette. The property also features 70 ADA-compliant rooms and suites.

The opening, said Keith Powers, a city council member for the neighborhood, is big news for Times Square, “the heart of the city.” He said that it would have been hard to imagine during the pandemic that the project would be possible, but that it was part of a “big revival for the city. “As goes Times Square, said Powers, “so goes the rest of New York.”

Located in TSX Broadway, a new 46-story tower featuring experiential retail, “cutting-edge” entertainment spaces and the Palace Theatre, the hotel’s highlights include expansive views of Times Square, a “buzzy” cocktail lounge with an outdoor terrace and a fitness center with top-of-the-line equipment. There are nine Wellness Rooms catering to the health-conscious traveler looking to keep up with their home routine on the road, outfitted with a Peloton Bike and access to a library of digital content, a yoga mat and resistance bands.

Upon arrival on the 11th floor, guests are greeted by a communal lobby featuring a signature hydration station offering alkaline filtered water. In partnership with Planet Water Foundation and Klean Kanteen guests may purchase reusable water bottles from the gift shop, with $2 from each bottle helping to support water-insecure communities all over the world.

Guest rooms, which start on the 12th floor, feature three zones: a Get Ready Zone, a well-lit space for preparing for the day or a night out, finishing some work or eating a quick bite; a spacious bathroom with an oversized shower, Bluetooth speaker mirror and Apotheke bath amenities; and an enveloping sleep environment with Sealy Accelerate mattresses, exclusive to Tempo by Hilton and dressed in cooling linens alongside amenities including a 65-inch TV and mini-refrigerator.