While city officials touted the rising activity in Newark, Berger noted that Newark’s proximity to New York City is a key driver of hotel business. “Simply put, New Jersey’s largest city is an outstanding cost alternative to Manhattan,” Berger says. “Guests staying at four- and five-star hotels in Newark pay about half of what they would to stay in New York City. Yet they can still get there quickly and easily via an outstanding public transportation network. Newark Penn Station offers 15-minute transit to Manhattan, with trains running 24/7.”

Indigo Hotel has also proposed building a new boutique hotel near the Prudential Center, two blocks from the new Marriott. Located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Lafayette Street, the Marriott stands right beside “The Rock,” as the Prudential Center is known. The arena is home to the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils and hosts about 200 sporting, concert and family events every year. Since it opened in 2007, “The Rock” draws up to 18,000 spectators a night for sporting events.

Tucker Development, a developer of shopping centers and mixed-use properties throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, will lease and manage 14,000 square feet of ground-floor retail at the new hotel, while Marriott manages day-to-day hotel operations.

NewarkWORKS, the city’s one-stop employment center, handled hiring for the hotel and will assist hiring efforts for the retail. The development has created 50 to 75 permanent jobs.

“This new Courtyard by Marriott will employ our residents, become an anchor of commerce and life on Broad Street, and help fulfill Mayor Booker's vision of a City that is welcoming to all,” said Zipkin at the ribbon-cutting on Monday.