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TWA Hotel

From Alfawiki
TWA Hotel
Company typeHotel
IndustryHospitality
FoundedMay 15, 2019; 7 years ago (2019-05-15)
Headquarters
Queens, New York City
,
United States
Area served
John F. Kennedy International Airport
ProductsHotel accommodations, conference spaces, dining, aviation history museum
OwnerMCR Hotels
ParentMCR Hotels

TWA Hotel is situated within John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York City, and officially opened its doors on May 15, 2019. This establishment repurposes the historic TWA Flight Center head house, originally designed by architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1962, alongside two newly constructed hotel buildings. The facility includes 512 guest rooms, conference spaces, several dining options, and an aviation history museum.

The hotel was developed by MCR Hotels, recognized as the third-largest hotel owner in the United States. It utilizes the former terminal structure, which ceased functioning as an airport terminal in 2001. Notably, it stands as the sole hotel located within the confines of JFK Airport.

History

Following the closure of the TWA Flight Center in 2001, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey pursued redevelopment plans for the terminal. The primary structure, known as the head house, had been designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission since 1994 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, thereby protecting it from demolition. The head house remained largely unused until it became part of Terminal 5's expansion, completed in 2008 and operated by JetBlue Airways.

In April 2015, The Wall Street Journal disclosed that JetBlue and hotel developer MCR Hotels were in discussions to convert the head house into a hotel. By July of that year, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo publicly endorsed plans to redevelop Saarinen’s building into an airport hotel situated on-site for travelers.

Construction

The project commenced with a groundbreaking ceremony on December 15, 2016, attended by Governor Cuomo, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and former employees of Trans World Airlines. Developers secured a lease agreement with the state for 75 years. The first hotel tower reached its highest structural point in December 2017, followed by the topping out of the second tower in March 2018. A model guest room was unveiled inside a JFK hangar in April 2018 to preview the accommodations. Construction complexities included excavating a new basement adjacent to the original head house and engineering room acoustics using specialized sound booths.

During renovation, a sales office and exhibition space were occasionally accessible on the 86th floor of One World Trade Center. In October 2018, a Lockheed Constellation L-1649 Starliner aircraft was transported to the site for transformation into a cocktail lounge; its fuselage had been displayed previously in Times Square in March 2019. Reservations opened in February 2019 prior to the official launch in May. The hotel welcomed guests starting May 15, 2019.

Soon after opening, the TWA Food Hall temporarily closed following an unsuccessful health inspection but resumed operations shortly thereafter.

Description

Operated by MCR Hotels—specializing in midscale to budget lodging across the U.S.—the TWA Hotel remains unique as JFK Airport’s only on-site hotel. The original headhouse was created by Eero Saarinen and completed posthumously by Roche-Dinkeloo. Renovation of the terminal was undertaken by Beyer Blinder Belle, while Lubrano Ciavarra Architects designed two new adjoining structures. Interior design for guest rooms was managed by Stonehill Taylor,[1][2] with INC Architecture and Design responsible for an underground event venue featuring 45 meeting rooms and a large hall. Structural engineering services were provided by Arup Group, while mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems were overseen by Jaros, Baum & Bolles.[3] Landscape architecture was executed by Mathews Nielson, complemented by acoustic engineering from Cerami & Associates.

To maintain the mid-20th century atmosphere, original elements from the TWA Flight Center—such as custom ceramic floor tiles and 486 uniquely shaped window panels—were faithfully reproduced. The hotel’s interior includes brass lighting fixtures, walnut-trimmed furnishings, rotary telephones, and corridors carpeted in red tones that echo the original lounge’s palette. Guest rooms combine vintage aesthetics with contemporary conveniences like blackout curtains and soundproof multi-pane windows.[4][5] Additionally, the iconic split-flap departure board crafted by Solari di Udine since 1962 underwent complete restoration during renovation.[6]

Accommodation

Positioned to the east of the original headhouse, two seven-story structures—the Saarinen Wing and the Hughes Wing—stand respectively north and south of the T5 terminal. These wings connect directly to the TWA Flight Center through the original headhouse corridors. Collectively, they provide 512 sound-insulated rooms designed for overnight stays or brief visits under 14 hours. To reduce noise from nearby runways, the towers incorporate 2,055 robust curtain wall panels equipped with multi-layered windows. Guests receive iPads that serve as digital room keys.

Facilities

The hotel offers a variety of dining venues, including Connie, a cocktail lounge housed within a preserved Lockheed L-1649 Starliner, the final model in the Lockheed Constellation series. Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Paris Café is also featured on-site. The lobby showcases vintage flight attendant uniforms and contains two bars: Coffee Bar and The Sunken Lounge. Additionally, the TWA Food Hall presents five fast-service food outlets.

Conference amenities are situated 29 feet below ground level in the basement, comprising five suites and 45 meeting rooms capable of hosting up to 1,600 attendees, including a ballroom with a capacity for 1,400 guests. A fitness center spanning 10,000 square feet is available for use. The hotel also displays a detailed scale model airport depicting TWA’s operations during the 1960s and 1970s with authentic airline models.

On the rooftop, an infinity pool is accessible for an additional fee and transforms into a ski lodge-themed Runway Chalet during winter months. Nearby are a bar and an expansive observation deck covering 10,000 square feet.

Critical reception

Upon its debut, Travel Weekly reported guest dissatisfaction related to "unfinished rooms, cluttered hallways, and indifferent service," with service challenges continuing for several years thereafter. Sarah Firshein of Condé Nast Traveler praised the hotel’s fusion of aviation heritage, design excellence, and culinary experiences but pointed out inconsistent service quality and spotty Wi-Fi connectivity. Business Insider commended the establishment’s authentic period furnishings and decor.

In September 2019, Time magazine recognized the hotel as one of "The World's Greatest Places of 2019." That same month, it was featured as the cover story in Interior Design magazine. Aviation consultancy Skytrax named the TWA Hotel North America’s top airport hotel in 2024 and ranked it third globally—a position it retained in 2025.

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Metropolis 2019
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Firshein 2019
  3. ↑ Architect
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Plitt 2018
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Brown 2018
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named cbs-2019may12
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