Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Host Hotels & Resorts announced the grand opening of the Westin New York Grand Central. The new hotel was converted from the former New York Helmsley after a $75 million renovation. The brand’s second Manhattan hotel features a complete redesign of the hotel’s interior, including 774 guest rooms, 12,000 square feet of meeting space, a 3,000 square-foot Westin Workout fitness studio and the upcoming addition of The LCL: Bar & Kitchen, NYC, the first bar and food concept from Gerber Group in a Westin property.

The Westin New York Grand Central joins its sister property, The Westin New York at Times Square, as a business epicenter in midtown Manhattan. Located just blocks away from both Grand Central Terminal and the United Nations, the hotel maintains its New York landmark status while providing guests the premium Westin experience with signature amenities and services.

“We have greatly anticipated the opening of The Westin New York Grand Central as it marks a new era for this historic hotel and its neighborhood,” said Brian Povinelli, global brand leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. “Our new landmark property will become a hub for both business and leisure travelers due to its prime location and the draw of the signature Westin experience, designed to provide our guests a bit of well-being in the center of bustling New York City.”

“This is a great day for Westin Hotels and Starwood -- some of the biggest names in our city’s growing hospitality industry,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who cut the ribbon today to open The Westin New York Grand Central. “Even when New York City was struggling to recover from the last national recession, Starwood was very bullish about our future. Their investments here have turned out to be smart ones, because a record number of tourists are flocking to New York City, and now this renovation gives them one more reason to visit.”