General Manager Named for New York's New Hilton Garden Inn

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. February 15, 2017

GREAT NECK, N.Y. February 15, 2017 - M&R Hotel Management today announced the appointment of Felix Maldonado as the general manager of the 250-room Hilton Garden Inn New York Times Square South, now under construction at 326 West 37th St. and scheduled to open in June.

The hotel will be the first Hilton brand in M&R's 17-property managed portfolio.

Maldonado, a 35-year hospitality industry veteran who has managed a variety of hotels in the greater New York market, will oversee the Hilton Garden Inn's operations, sales, marketing, security, maintenance, housekeeping and accounting.

Maldonado joins M&R from Highgate Hotels, which he served from 2012 to 2015, first as general manager of the Hampton Inn Manhattan − Times Square North, then general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn New York/Times Square Central and finally general manager of the Renaissance New York Hotel 57.

From 2003 to 2012, Maldonado was director of rooms and then director of front desk operations at the Loews Regency New York Hotel. He served Interstate Hotels & Resorts from 2002 to 2003, first as front office manager and then communications director at the Park Central Hotel New York.

Earlier in his career, Maldonado served Manhattan East Suite Hotels (now Affinia Hospitality) from 1999 to 2001, serving as assistant front office manager at The Benjamin and then front office manager at the Beekman Tower Hotel, both in New York. During this period, he also worked weekends at The Garden City Hotel, New York, as a guest services manager.

He began his hospitality career while still in college in 1982, working as a front desk agent at the Hotel Tudor, the Park Central (then part of Omni Hotels & Resorts) and the Omni Berkshire Place, all in New York. In 1988, he joined Le Parker Meridien in Manhattan full-time as assistant manager, leaving in 1990 to work in the garment, retail and commercial industries before returning to hospitality.

Maldonado earned a bachelor's degree in physics at New York University. He is a certified fire safety director and member of the Hotel Association of New York City Inc. and its Sustainability committee. Fluent in English and Spanish, he has a working knowledge of French, Italian, Portuguese and German.

“Felix's specific experience with the Hilton Garden Inn brand and his in-depth knowledge of the Manhattan market, including the Times Square and Times Square South markets, makes him truly qualified to take the helm of this new hotel,” said Brian McSherry, M&R Hotel Management chief operating officer.

The Hilton Garden Inn New York Times Square South features king and double rooms, 24-hour business and fitness centers, full-service restaurant, lounge, evening room service, meeting room and Garden Market grab-and-go. Other amenities include complimentary daily newspaper and wireless internet service.

The hotel is located near the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Times Square, the Broadway theater district, the emerging Hudson Yards neighborhood and word-class shopping and dining. The hotel is also within walking distance to New York Penn Station and Port Authority transit hubs.

M&R Hotel Management, based in Great Neck, New York, operates five other hotels in Manhattan, including the Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Manhattan Central Park at 538 West 58th St., the Holiday Inn New York City -Times Square at 585 Eighth Ave., the Holiday Inn Express Manhattan Midtown West at 538 West 48th St., the Comfort Inn Midtown West at 548 West 48th St. and the Holiday Inn NYC - Lower East Side at 150 Delancey St.

The company also manages six hotels in Queens, including four near John F. Kennedy International Airport, one near LaGuardia Airport and one in Long Island City; three hotels on Staten Island; one in Nassau County, New York; and one on the Caribbean island of Curacao.

M&R's portfolio includes the brands of Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International, InterContinental Hotels Group, Choice Hotels International, Wyndham Hotel Group and Best Western Hotels & Resorts.

M&R's business plan calls for expansion of its portfolio in the New York metropolitan area and beyond through third-party management contracts.

In addition to management, M&R provides consulting services in hotel site and contractor selection, feasibility analysis, permitting, financing, human resources support, sales and marketing, revenue management, food & beverage management, account and risk management audits, e-commerce, design, procurement, accounting and engineering.