Millennium Times Square New York

Millennium Times Square New York is a large hotel complex at 133–145 West 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan, between Times Square and Sixth Avenue in New York City's Theater District. The property occupies two adjoining lots and is organized around the historic Hudson Theatre, which originally opened in 1903. Its principal tower rises west of the theater, while a smaller eastern annex is marketed as the Millennium Premier New York Times Square. The hotel began as the Hotel Macklowe, a development by real-estate entrepreneur Harry Macklowe. The project followed Macklowe's acquisition of several properties around the Hudson Theatre in the 1980s. The site-clearing process became controversial after four buildings were demolished without the required permits and without utility lines being disconnected. The incident delayed development and resulted in criminal proceedings involving parties associated with the demolition, while Macklowe paid a substantial civil penalty. The original 48-story tower ultimately opened in early 1990. The hotel was designed as a mixed hospitality and meeting facility. Its original tower contains guest rooms, a lobby extending between 44th and 45th Streets, food-and-beverage facilities, a fitness center, and a large conference operation. The lower portion incorporates the Hudson Theatre, which was adapted for meetings, corporate events, weddings, and auditorium-style functions when the hotel opened. The theater later returned to Broadway use in 2017. A 22-story annex, developed in 1999 for Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, expanded the property and added 125 additional units. The complex has approximately 750 guest units across its two towers: about 625 in the original tower and 125 in the Premier annex. Accommodation categories have included standard, superior, deluxe, executive, premier, and suite formats, with upper-floor rooms offering views toward Times Square and the Manhattan skyline. The property also includes a conference center of roughly 100,000 square feet with 33 meeting rooms and auditorium spaces designed for groups ranging from small business meetings to large events. Its food-and-beverage identity has changed over time. The original restaurant was known as Restaurant Charlotte and offered full-service dining and afternoon tea. Under Millennium ownership, the space became the Bugis Street Brasserie and Bar, reflecting a Singaporean culinary concept. The hotel's central positioning is based on location, scale, meeting capacity, access to Broadway theaters, and integration with the Hudson Theatre rather than on a standalone lifestyle or resort proposition. The property was affiliated with Hilton's DoubleTree brand from 2019 to 2021. After that affiliation ended, Highgate was hired to manage the hotel. The hotel remains associated with the Millennium brand and continues to operate as a Times Square lodging and events complex, although exact current operating details, ownership arrangements, and official website information are not established in the supplied references.

The site's most important historic element is the Hudson Theatre, which opened in 1903 under theatrical operator Henry B. Harris. After Harris's death, his widow Renee Harris continued operating the venue until the theater business was affected by the Great Depression. The building later served as a CBS radio studio from 1934 to 1937 and as an NBC television studio from 1949 to 1960. It periodically hosted Broadway productions during the mid-twentieth century, then passed through less conventional uses including a pornographic theater, a nightclub known as the Savoy, and a movie theater. Redevelopment pressure around the block increased during the 1970s and 1980s. Harry Macklowe acquired the Hudson Theatre in May 1984 and assembled additional properties with the intention of constructing a major tower. In January 1985, four buildings at 143–149 West 44th Street were demolished at night without the necessary permits and before utility services had been disconnected. The demolition was connected to an effort to avoid an impending city moratorium affecting single-room-occupancy properties. The resulting controversy brought investigations and prosecutions. Macklowe paid a $2 million fine, while other participants faced charges relating to reckless endangerment and perjury. The dispute delayed the proposed development. The project eventually proceeded as a hotel rather than the office tower originally contemplated. The main 48-story tower was designed by William Derman with Perkins & Will, following earlier involvement by Gruzen Samton Steinglass. Its design combined a classically treated lower section with the Hudson Theatre and a modern upper facade of dark glass. Macklowe used the theater's unused air rights to increase the height of the hotel within zoning constraints. The Hotel Macklowe opened in early 1990 and contained a conference center designed to support corporate events, meetings, theater-style presentations, and banquets. The original hotel was planned with roughly 635 to 638 rooms in contemporary accounts, although current descriptions identify 625 rooms in the principal tower. The building's early guest technology included MackTel, a room-based television service through which guests could seek and purchase tickets and request room service. Interiors used black and tan decoration, cherry-wood headboards, Art Deco seating, marble writing desks, and minibars. The lobby connected entrances on 44th and 45th Streets and included artwork, dark marble, wood finishes, a concierge, reception facilities, and retail space. Chemical Bank acquired the hotel from Macklowe through foreclosure in 1994 and subsequently sold it to CDL Hotels. Under CDL, the property was renamed Millennium Broadway. Millennium later added a 22-story eastern annex in 1999. Designed by Stonehill & Taylor and Kiat Supattapone, the annex was set back behind a granite wall and became the Millennium Premier New York Times Square. Together, the two wings contain approximately 750 units. The conference center occupied the first five floors and covered roughly 100,000 square feet. It included 33 rooms, ranging from small meeting rooms to six auditorium spaces, and offered audiovisual, catering, administrative, and event-support services. The Hudson Theatre itself was adapted with a stage deck, dressing rooms, rigging, projection equipment, and sound systems for conference use. It could accommodate approximately 700 people in theater configuration and about 300 for banquet events. In 2017, the theater was restored to Broadway use and reopened with approximately 970 seats, separating its theatrical function from the hotel's event operation. The hotel's brand and management relationships continued to evolve. It operated under the Millennium identity for much of its history, was affiliated with DoubleTree from 2019 to 2021, and subsequently appointed Highgate as manager. Its enduring role is that of a large Times Square hotel and meeting venue whose architectural and commercial identity is inseparable from the Hudson Theatre and the surrounding Broadway district.

• 2021

  DoubleTree affiliation ends

  [1]Millennium Times Square New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  The DoubleTree affiliation concludes, and Highgate is hired to manage the property.

• 2019

  DoubleTree affiliation begins

  [1]Millennium Times Square New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  The hotel becomes affiliated with Hilton's DoubleTree brand.

• 2017

  Hudson Theatre reopens as a Broadway venue

  [1]Millennium Times Square New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  The theater is converted from hotel conference use back to Broadway operation.

• 1999

  Eastern annex is developed

  [1]Millennium Times Square New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  Millennium & Copthorne Hotels develops the 22-story annex later known as Millennium Premier New York Times Square.

• 1994

  Chemical Bank forecloses on the hotel

  [1]Millennium Times Square New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  Chemical Bank takes control of the property through foreclosure and later sells it to CDL Hotels.

• 1990

  Hotel Macklowe opens

  [1]Millennium Times Square New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  The original 48-story hotel tower opens with guest rooms, meeting facilities, and the Hudson Theatre adapted as an auditorium.

• 1985

  Unauthorized demolition delays development

  [1]Millennium Times Square New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  Four neighboring structures are demolished without required permits, producing investigations, prosecutions, and a major fine.

• 1984

  Harry Macklowe acquires the Hudson Theatre

  [1]Millennium Times Square New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  Macklowe acquires the theater as part of an effort to assemble the site for a major redevelopment.

• 1903

  Hudson Theatre opens

  [1]Millennium Times Square New Yorken.wikipedia.org

  The theater that later became part of the hotel complex opens on West 44th Street.

A large, centrally located Manhattan hotel focused on Times Square access, Broadway proximity, business meetings, events, and theater-related stays.

• Hotel accommodation · 1990

  Millennium Times Square guest rooms and suites

  The original tower contains approximately 625 rooms, including standard, superior, deluxe, and suite categories. Rooms occupy upper floors and larger or higher units provide Times Square and Manhattan skyline views. The described Millennium Suites include writing desks, European tubs, and full-height windows.

• Hotel accommodation · 1999

  Millennium Premier New York Times Square

  The eastern 22-story annex contains approximately 125 units. Its room types have included premier, deluxe, and executive rooms, with larger layouts, full-height windows, European tubs, and a separate lounge and boardroom offering breakfast and evening cocktails.

• Meetings and events · 1990

  Conference center

  The conference center spans roughly 100,000 square feet across the hotel's lower floors and contains 33 meeting rooms, including small rooms, medium-sized rooms, and auditorium spaces. It supports corporate meetings, presentations, weddings, banquets, catering, and audiovisual requirements.

• Theater and events · 1903

  Hudson Theatre

  The 1903 theater is physically incorporated into the base of the hotel. It was adapted for hotel conferences and events after the hotel opened, then returned to Broadway use in 2017 with approximately 970 seats.

• Restaurant and bar

  Bugis Street Brasserie and Bar

  A Singaporean-style restaurant and bar concept that occupied the hotel's principal restaurant space after the property came under Millennium ownership. The space had previously operated as Restaurant Charlotte.

• 1985

  Unauthorized demolition during site clearance

  Four buildings associated with the proposed hotel site were demolished without permits and without disconnected utility lines. The action triggered city enforcement, criminal proceedings, and a $2 million fine paid by Harry Macklowe. The episode delayed the development and remains the principal controversy associated with the property's construction.

  Source

Read more

• 2021

  Change brand affiliation and management arrangementStrategy

  Background

  The hotel had been affiliated with Hilton's DoubleTree brand from 2019 through 2021.

  Action taken

  The DoubleTree affiliation ended, and Highgate was hired to manage the hotel.

  Aftermath

  The property continued operating under its Millennium-associated identity with a new management arrangement.

  Source

• 2017

  Return the Hudson Theatre to Broadway operationStrategy

  Background

  The historic theater had been used as part of the hotel's conference and events program since the original hotel opened.

  Action taken

  The Hudson Theatre was converted back into a Broadway venue and reopened with approximately 970 seats.

  Aftermath

  The theater resumed its historic entertainment role while the hotel retained its broader accommodation and conference functions.

  Source

• 1999

  Add the Millennium Premier annexGeneration change

  Background

  Millennium & Copthorne Hotels expanded the property after acquiring and operating the original hotel, increasing its room inventory and creating a distinct premium accommodation wing.

  Action taken

  A 22-story eastern annex with approximately 125 units was developed beside the Hudson Theatre.

  Aftermath

  The complex grew to approximately 750 rooms across two towers and gained the Millennium Premier New York Times Square identity.

  Source

• 1990

  Open a hotel around the Hudson TheatreProduct launch

  Background

  Harry Macklowe's redevelopment plan shifted from a proposed office tower to a hotel project incorporating the historic theater and a large meeting operation.

  Action taken

  The Hotel Macklowe opened as a 48-story lodging and conference complex, using the Hudson Theatre as an auditorium and event space.

  Aftermath

  The property established the basic two-function model that continues to define it: hotel accommodation combined with major meeting and theater facilities.

  Source

1. 1Millennium Times Square New Yorken.wikipedia.org