More than three years after the brand was first announced, Hilton has opened its first Tempo hotel. The 661-room Tempo by Hilton Times Square takes up 36 stories of the 46-story TSX Broadway mixed-use tower that includes retail, entertainment spaces and the historic Palace Theatre, right on a corner where 400,000 people walk by daily.
With the debut of Tempo by Hilton Times Square, as well as the upcoming openings of Motto by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hampton by Hilton in Times Square this summer, Hilton will add nearly 2,000 rooms to its portfolio in the so-called “Crossroads of the World.”
A New Design
Designed by Wimberly Interiors, interior designer, and Mancini Duffy, architect of record, the hotel is meant to have a “functional yet elevated, approachable yet modern” vibe. The 11th-floor lobby has a hydration station serving alkaline filtered water. In partnership with Planet Water Foundation and Klean Kanteen, guests can purchase a reusable water bottle from the gift shop, with $2 from each bottle helping to support water-insecure communities all over the world. In addition, Hilton Global Foundation, Tempo by Hilton and Tempo by Hilton Times Square will fund an AquaTower water filtration system that will bring clean water to a community in Puebla, Mexico.
Guestrooms have three zones for different needs throughout the day: the Get Ready Zone, a well-lit space for preparing for the day or night, finishing work or eating; a bathroom with an oversized shower and Bluetooth speaker mirror; and a sleeping area with Sealy Accelerate mattresses, exclusive to Tempo by Hilton and covered in cooling linens. Each room also has a 65-inch TV and mini-refrigerator. Through the Confirmed Connecting Rooms by Hilton technology, guests can instantly confirm at least two connecting rooms when booking upcoming stays.
The guestrooms have natural tones of light wood and blue coupled with touches of brass and leather. Lighting automatically turns on upon entry and dims at sunset, also offering the option to brighten the space if working or getting ready for the day.
Nine Wellness Rooms have a Peloton Bike and access to a library of digital content, a yoga mat and resistance bands. The 31 Ball Drop rooms have close-up views of the famous Times Square Ball that falls every New Year's Eve, as does the Presidential Suite, which has a living area, dining room and kitchenette. The property also has 70 ADA-compliant rooms and suites.
Food & Beverage
Tempo by Hilton Times Square has two notable dining options. The Grab & Go space, developed with Australian coffee company Bluestone Lane, serves breakfast and lunch options as well as as specialty espresso drinks, teas and juices.
Restaurant Director Kamal Ahmed and Chef de Cuisine Kit Skarstrom oversee signature restaurant Highball, which serves shareable plates. In the evening, Highball turns into a cocktail lounge. Guests can have their drinks inside or on the wrap-around outdoor terrace with views of Times Square.
Hilton has 35 Tempo hotels under development and is set to open properties in Raleigh, N.C.; Nashville; Louisville, Ky.; and San Diego.