(Mark your calendars: RealShare Hotels, September 15 at the New York Hilton)

NEW YORK CITY-In one of the biggest hotel developments in Manhattan in recent years, Marriott International Inc. and ownership group Granite Broadway Development signed a franchise agreement to develop a 68-story tower at 1717 Broadway with over 600 hotel rooms, the New York Times reported today. The project, which will be managed by Interstate Hotels and Resorts, will include a 378-key Courtyard by Marriott and a 261-room Residence Inn by Marriott at 54^th Street. It will open in late 2013.

The Times says that the Courtyard and Residence Inn Manhattan/Central Park development has been in the works for over a decade, and will be the tallest stand-alone hotel building without office or residential space in New York upon completion. “This project is a long time coming, and we believe that these two brands, along with the leased retail shops and restaurant, will offer needed services in this part of Manhattan,” says Ronnie Gross, vice president of Granite Broadway Development, in a statement. The tower will rise 752 feet from street level. “The building will be absolutely stunning, and the hotels are the right lodging brands for this wonderful location.”