NEW YORK— Located only blocks from Ground Zero, the Marriott Financial Center got a bit of good news March 6 when NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg reported that three lanes north and south on West Street will re-open for drivers on April 1. With a front entrance facing the city’s Westside highway, the Marriott hotel— which began welcoming guests again on Jan. 7— is expected to reap significant benefits of the returned transportation to Lower Manhattan. “We’ve just been waiting for West Street to open,” said Roger Borsink, vp/Marriott’s New York Region, who added that last week’s reopening of Church St. and local discount department store Century 21 has also helped business pick up. “More and more people know we’re open each day,” Borsink stated. Despite transportation challenges and its proximity to the clean up efforts at the former World Trade Center site, the hotel has seen guests start to return and is averaging weekday occupancy of about 80%. The property is also preparing to reopen its 85 West restaurant on March 18. —Diana M. Rodriguez
