FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 23, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11
TWA Hotel arrives at JFK after years of anticipation
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e early 60s came roaring back to life
with a Beatles cover band performing as
Governor Andrew Cuomo joined elected
offi cials to cut the ribbon on the new
TWA Hotel at JFK International Airport
Wednesday.
Th e landmark Trans World Airlines
Flight Center, which opened in 1962 and
closed nearly 20 years ago, underwent a
$265 million renovation into a one-of-akind
512-room hotel that pays homage to
the Jet Age.
“Th e TWA building was ahead of its
time, and it represented New York’s vision
and creativity and boldness. New York has
always been a state that led the nation in
fi rsts, in reforms, in turnarounds and in
troubled times,” Cuomo said. “Th is rebirth
of the TWA Hotel says we haven’t lost our
imagination, our boldness, our creativity,
our daring, and we are still one step
ahead of everyone else. If you want to know
where the future’s going to lead, look to the
State of New York. Th e best is yet to be, and
the TWA Hotel is a beautiful example.”
Th e project was union built, with 3,700
construction jobs created, and will be
union operated. It took two and a half
years to complete. Th e Governor said the
new hotel builds on the historic $13 billion
vision plan to transform JFK into a
21st century facility.
“Th e TWA Hotel exemplifi es the overall
mission behind JFK’s redevelopment,
remodeling its history to reinvent JFK
into the future,” Congressman Gregory
Meeks said. “Th is public-private partnership
strengthens both our tourism industry
and local business community, including
MWBE’s contracted for the hotels
completion. With the project’s focus on
local and diverse hiring, and its available
convening space, the TWA Hotel won’t
just be part of the airport but part of the
community.”
Th e project involved 22 government
agencies and more than 170 fi rms all guided
by developer Tyler Morse who paid
tribute to the structures famed architect.
“Eero Saarinen’s cathedral to aviation
has always looked toward the future,”
Morse said. “We restored and reimagined
his landmark with the same care that
he devoted to his design. No detail was
overlooked, from the millwork by Amish
artisans to the custom font inspired by
Saarinen’s own sketches to the one-ofa
kind manhole covers, and 600 rotary
telephones. Starting today, the world can
enjoy this midcentury marvel for many
years to come.”
Guests began checking in at 3 p.m.
and began to use many of the TWA
Hotel’s amenities including a rooft op
pool and observation deck overlooking
the runways, six restaurants and eight
bars including a Lockheed Constellation
“Connie” L-1649A transformed into a
cocktail lounge, an Intelligentsia coff ee
bar, 50,000 square feet of event space
including a 15,000-square-foot ballroom,
the world’s biggest hotel gym, high-end
retail including a Shinola custom watch
bad and leather goods store and museum
exhibitions on TWA, the Jet Age and midcentury
modern design curated by the
New York Historical Society.
“Th e TWA Hotel is an amazing symbol
of how ingenuity and inspiration can
help fuel the continued growth of Queens
as a destination for New Yorkers and visitors
from around the world,” Borough
President Melinda Katz said. “Th e TWA
Hotel is a welcome addition to our borough
that has revitalized a landmark
structure while also creating jobs for hundreds
of Queens residents. Th is incredible
project has shown that when it comes
to economic development in Queens, the
sky’s the limit!”
State Senator Joseph Addabbo agreed.
“As a life-long resident living within
a mile of JFK, I am extremely excited
for the opening of this brand-new TWA
Hotel at the airport because it signifi es
to the rest of the world what we already
know, that Queens is the place to be and
represents a fi rst-class welcome to all.
Th is luxurious hotel will serve millions
of visitors who fl y into Queens and provide
the credible jobs so crucially needed
in the economy.”
Courtesy of Governor’s offi ce
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