Marriott World Trade Center
Product brand
UnclaimedFormer 22-story Marriott hotel in New York City's original World Trade Center complex, destroyed during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
Marriott World Trade Center was a large hotel in the original World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City. The 22-story, 825-room property opened in April 1981 as the Vista International Hotel and was also identified by its site designation, 3 World Trade Center. It was the first major hotel to open south of Canal Street in Manhattan since 1836, helping establish the World Trade Center and the surrounding financial district as a destination for business travelers, visitors, and nightlife. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the steel-framed building was connected to the North Tower through the underground concourse and by a pedestrian connection at plaza level. Its facilities included approximately 26,000 square feet of meeting space, two restaurants, a multilingual staff, translation support, and a reference collection containing foreign-language dictionaries. A large upper-floor fitness facility included a swimming pool and running track with views toward the Hudson River. The property was marketed as a business-oriented, full-service hotel and received a four-diamond rating from the American Automobile Association. The hotel was initially planned and managed by Hilton International, although contractual restrictions prevented it from using the Hilton name in the United States. Its leasehold changed hands during the 1980s. Kuo Hotel Corporation acquired the leasehold in 1982, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey purchased it in 1989 while Hilton International retained operating responsibilities. The hotel became a successful Lower Manhattan venue and contributed to the area's commercial and entertainment development. The 1993 World Trade Center bombing caused severe damage to the hotel's lower levels and closed it for approximately 18 months. Rather than demolish the structure, the Port Authority authorized extensive repairs and reinforcement, including the installation of a particularly large structural steel beam. The property reopened in November 1994. Host Marriott Corporation acquired it in November 1995, and the hotel was renamed the New York Marriott World Trade Center; the new management arrangement began operating in January 1996. On September 11, 2001, the hotel stood immediately beside the Twin Towers and became part of the unfolding terrorist attack. Aircraft impacts damaged the building, while hotel personnel, firefighters, police officers, conference attendees, and other civilians used it during evacuation and emergency response. The collapses of the South and North Towers destroyed nearly the entire structure. Forty-three people inside the hotel died, including 41 firefighters and two hotel employees. Fourteen people trapped in a surviving southern section were rescued. The building's remains were dismantled in early 2002. Marriott transferred displaced guests from the World Trade Center hotels to other properties in New York, waived cancellation fees, and increased security. The company also publicly committed to continued employment and health-insurance support for affected employees for a limited period. Although the lease technically extended for many decades, Marriott declined an opportunity to rebuild on the site. An agreement approved in 2003 ended Host Marriott's leasehold, allowing the site to be incorporated into the post-attack World Trade Center redevelopment and memorial landscape. The hotel was not replaced in the rebuilt complex, although the address 3 World Trade Center was later reused for a separate office tower at 175 Greenwich Street.
History
Construction of the World Trade Center hotel began in March 1979. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designed the building as a 22-story steel-framed hotel with 825 rooms and six basement levels. It opened on April 1, 1981, initially with 100 rooms available, and was completed later that year. The property operated as the Vista International Hotel because Hilton International, which planned and managed it, could not use the Hilton name in the United States under an existing naming arrangement. The hotel was also commonly called 3 World Trade Center or the World Trade Center Hotel. The property was initially leased to WTC Hotel Associates of Chicago. Kuo Hotel Corporation, based in Hong Kong, acquired the leasehold in 1982. The hotel became a notable Lower Manhattan business and social venue, supporting the broader emergence of the World Trade Center district. In 1989, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey purchased the leasehold from Kuo for $78 million, while Hilton International continued as the management agent. The February 26, 1993 World Trade Center bombing caused extensive damage, particularly to the lower levels and areas below the hotel ballroom. The Port Authority considered demolition, but ultimately authorized a major repair program. The building was closed for roughly 18 months and structurally reinforced, including with a very large steel beam. It reopened on November 1, 1994. Host Marriott Corporation bought the property in November 1995 for $141.5 million, renamed it the New York Marriott World Trade Center, and assumed the new management arrangement in January 1996. Security measures were increased after the bombing. By September 11, 2001, the hotel had 940 registered guests and was hosting the annual conference of the National Association for Business Economics. The building was immediately affected when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. Debris entered the hotel near its upper floors, causing damage, fire, and disruption to telephones and elevators. Hotel personnel and emergency responders helped evacuate guests and people fleeing the towers. United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower at 9:03 a.m., intensifying the emergency. The South Tower's collapse at 9:59 a.m. crushed the central portion of the hotel. The North Tower's collapse at 10:28 a.m. destroyed most of what remained, leaving a small southern section. Fourteen people survived within that remnant and were able to escape through openings in the damaged structure. Forty-three people inside the hotel died, including 41 firefighters and two hotel employees who had assisted with evacuation. The hotel was never reopened. Its remains were dismantled in January 2002. Following the attacks, Marriott relocated guests from the World Trade Center properties to seven other Marriott hotels in New York, increased security, and waived cancellation fees. Bill Marriott addressed employees and announced continued employment support and health-insurance coverage for affected workers for a stated period. Marriott was offered the possibility of rebuilding at the original site, and its lease extended until 2094, but the company declined. In October 2003, the Port Authority approved an arrangement under which Host Marriott surrendered the premises, ending the lease and enabling the land to be used in the post-September 11 redevelopment and memorial complex. A later World Trade Center office tower reused the 3 World Trade Center address but was unrelated to the former hotel.
- 2003
Lease surrendered
[1]Host Marriott surrendered the premises under an agreement approved by the Port Authority.
- 2002
Remains dismantled
[1]The remaining structure was removed for World Trade Center reconstruction.
- 2001
Destruction in the September 11 attacks
[1]The hotel was destroyed by the collapse of the World Trade Center towers; 43 people inside died.
- 1995
Acquisition by Host Marriott
[1]Host Marriott acquired the hotel and renamed it the New York Marriott World Trade Center.
- 1994
Reopening after reconstruction
[1]The reinforced hotel reopened on November 1.
- 1993
World Trade Center bombing
[1]The bombing seriously damaged the hotel and forced an extended closure.
- 1989
Port Authority acquires the leasehold
[1]The Port Authority bought the leasehold from Kuo while Hilton International retained management responsibilities.
- 1982
Kuo Hotel Corporation acquires the leasehold
[1]Kuo Hotel Corporation purchased the hotel's leasehold.
- 1981
Vista International Hotel opens
[1]The hotel opened in April as the Vista International Hotel and was completed later in the year with 825 rooms.
- 1979
Construction begins
[1]Construction began on the World Trade Center hotel designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Products and positioning
Business-oriented, full-service urban hotel serving World Trade Center visitors, corporate travelers, conference delegates, and emergency-response activity.
Accommodation · 1981
Hotel rooms
The property operated as an 825-room full-service hotel designed for business travelers, World Trade Center visitors, conference participants, and tourists. It later had 940 registered guests on September 11, 2001, reflecting its role as a major lodging facility within the complex.
Business hospitality · 1981
Meeting and event facilities
The entire third floor contained approximately 26,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel hosted conferences, professional gatherings, and planned recruitment events, including the 2001 annual conference of the National Association for Business Economics.
Recreation · 1981
Fitness center
The top floor contained a large fitness facility with a swimming pool and running track. Its elevated location provided views toward the Hudson River and was an unusual amenity for a New York hotel of the period.
Food and beverage · 1981
Restaurants and bars
The hotel operated the street-level Tall Ships Bar and Grill and the plaza-level Greenhouse Café, which had a skylight oriented toward the surrounding towers. The American Harvest restaurant was removed after the 1993 bombing and the area was later renovated as the rentable Harvest Room.
Controversies
2001
September 11 terrorist attacks and destruction
The hotel was destroyed after hijacked aircraft struck the adjacent Twin Towers and both towers collapsed. Forty-three people inside the hotel died, including firefighters and hotel employees involved in evacuation and emergency response.
1993
World Trade Center bombing
An al-Qaeda-linked bombing in the World Trade Center parking area severely damaged the hotel and caused an extended closure. The incident was a terrorist attack rather than a corporate misconduct matter, but it was a defining crisis in the property's history.
Brand decisions
2003
Decision not to rebuild at the original siteStrategyBackground
After the hotel was destroyed, Marriott retained a long-term lease that technically extended to 2094 and was offered an opportunity to rebuild.
Action taken
Marriott declined to rebuild the hotel and agreed to surrender the premises through an arrangement approved by the Port Authority.
Aftermath
The lease ended, and the site became available for post-attack redevelopment associated with the World Trade Center memorial and museum. The former hotel was not replaced.
1995
Host Marriott acquisition and renamingM&ABackground
The hotel had reopened after the 1993 bombing and remained a significant World Trade Center lodging property.
Action taken
Host Marriott Corporation acquired the property and renamed it the New York Marriott World Trade Center.
Aftermath
The new management company began operating the hotel in January 1996.
Acquisition price. $141.5 million (November 1995)
1993
Repair rather than demolish the bomb-damaged buildingOtherBackground
After the February 1993 bombing, the Port Authority considered demolishing the hotel because of the extent of damage.
Action taken
The Port Authority chose an extensive repair and reinforcement program, allowing the hotel to reopen in November 1994.
Aftermath
The structure returned to service after approximately 18 months of closure and incorporated substantial additional reinforcement.
Recent events
- 2003
Lease surrender enables site redevelopment[1]
Other
The Port Authority approved an agreement ending Host Marriott's leasehold and enabling redevelopment associated with the memorial and museum site.
- 2002
Hotel remains dismantled[1]
Other
The remaining structure was dismantled to clear the site for World Trade Center reconstruction.
- 1995
Host Marriott acquires and renames the property[1]
M&A
Host Marriott Corporation purchased the hotel and renamed it the New York Marriott World Trade Center.
- 1994
Hotel reopens after structural repairs[1]
Other
The reinforced property reopened on November 1 after the Port Authority chose repair over demolition.
Sources1 sources
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