NEW YORK— Despite the events of Sept. 11 and their effects on the lodging industry, construction of the 863-room Westin New York at Times Square is on track and the new-build property will open as expected in November 2002. Indeed, sales are moving along at full steam, according to David Sargent, director/sales and marketing for the hotel. “Construction has been flawless so far. No delays of any type. We continue to be ahead of schedule. The weather this winter certainly played in our favor,” said Sargent. The property— which is being developed, built and owned by affiliates of Tishman Realty & Construction Co.— even topped off ahead of schedule, late last year. “The community is excited that the Westin New York at Times Square is coming here, and we are excited to be here. We are going to play heavily in the city-wide arena,” added Sargent. Though the economy has forced the 45-story property— which can be seen going up on the corner of 43rd Street and 8th Avenue— to refocus on getting more group business, Sargent is still confident that business from corporate transient travelers will be good. “A lot of the corporate world [in the Big Apple]will be moving to Times Square: Reuters, Conde Nast, Nasdaq. Ernst & Young is opening up in April. The New York Times is moving their headquarters to 41st Street from 43rd,” said Sargent. The hotels sales force is also leveraging the fact they have whats called the Marketing Preview Center located in the pre-sales office on-site. “It is an actual… meeting room. Everything is installed so it gives the actual feel of a real meeting room [at the hotel]. Many associations and corporate companies have had their meetings here with us, so they have experienced it, as well as our mock-up rooms,” said Sargent. Around the model meeting room there are also renderings of the property so that customers can get a better sense of what the hotel is all about. Having the center has given the hotel an edge in this economy, since Sargent said the hotel is getting “good buzz.” “We think were going to make a bold statement, show the resonance and vitality of New York City, especially after the Sept. 11 events. Well show that New York is back,” remarked Sargent. According to Richard Kielar, senior vp at Tishman, people from around the world have been calling the company to book stays since the hotel design by Miami-based Arquitectonica won a development award several years ago when the hotel was first proposed. “For the past four years Ive been getting calls from all over the world because of the rendering,” said Kielar. People are impressed with the design, which will feature an exterior clad in glass panels in “earth” and “sky” tones and a beam of light that will project through the middle up into the sky. The earth and sky fusion of hues will make its way into the public spaces and guestrooms of the hotel, taking cues from its architectural feel. The design is something that is helping propel sales forward, and something that plays a part in Tishmans marketing plans for its portfolio of 15 hotels that include the Walt Disney World Dolphin and Swan hotels, the Westin Chicago River North and the Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort, Country Club & Ocean Villas. For example, while the hotel is geared toward business travelers, 124 of the hotels guestrooms will be Club Rooms and Suites, which will be slightly larger rooms that will give the sales force another tier of rooms to sell. “VIPs and so forth will stay in those rooms,” Sargent noted. “They are 50 to 70 feet larger than the standard deluxe rooms. They will have access to the Club level which will offer breakfast, evening hors doeuvres, etc.” As in all of the guestrooms, the Club rooms will offer high-speed Internet access; two phones, one being cordless; dataports; voicemail; coffee makers… safes that are equipped to handle laptops; and, of course the signature Westin Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath,” Sargent said. “W