By Willard Smith

In celebration of its first anniversary, the Residence Inn by Marriott World Trade Center, reached back to its opening. At that time, a year ago, it surprised its first guest with a host of gifts. This year they did it all over again.

In celebration of their one year anniversary, they decided to do it all over again with another Mystery Guest Surprise and Delight! The guest who checked in at 10:48am (or closest to this time), would be named the 2016 one year anniversary mystery guest. The time of check-in was in commemoration of when the first guest appeared a year ago. This year’s lucky winners were Sofia Nedic and Tobias Turevo, who stepped into RIWTC at 11:15am.

Traveling across the globe from Australia, it was the couple’s first time in NYC. They were welcomed by Ken Jasinski, James Gutierrez and the RIWTC Team, who presented them with a bag full of goodies: a complimentary one night’s stay, a black I♥NYC duffle bag on wheels (perfect for big sales & shopping), a $25 C21 Gift Certificate (compliments of Centurty 21 Department Store), RIWTC chocolates, RIWTC Tumbler, RIWTC Journal, RIWTC Umbrella and an I♥NYC snow globe.

To make the moment even more special, Sofia and Tobias shared the news that they just got engaged on New Year’s Eve in Central Park. What a romantic iconic NYC spot! This was reminiscent of “When Harry Met Sally” or “Serendipity”. If you plan your upcoming 2016 stay at www.ResidenceInnNewYork.com, you may be the next “Mystery Guest”!

The Residence Inn Manhattan World Trade Center is located in the heart of New York City’s Financial District at the corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane – a distinctive address among Manhattan hotels. From 1795 until the early 20th century, Maiden Lane was the center of New York City’s bustling jewelry district.

In 1896, Manhattan jeweler William Barthman decided to embed a working clock into the sidewalk outside his eponymous jewelry store on the corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane as a way to lure customers. The finished clock was installed in the fall of 1899 and immediately became a public curiosity that still keeps time to this day.

Stretching west from the South Street Seaport all the way to the World Trade Center Site, Maiden Lane now hosts such significant edifices as The Federal Reserve of New York, the Continental Center, the Cushman Building, and the Goldsmiths’ and Silversmiths’ Building, evoking an eclectic mix of modernist, neoclassicist, and beaux arts architecture all along the lane.

Even though the Residence Inn Manhattan World Trade is one of the newest hotels in Lower Manhattan, the 20-story building at 170 Broadway dates back to 1903. To honor the historic address as well as the rich heritage of the Financial District and the famous Maiden Lane sidewalk clock, hotel representatives worked with Stonehill & Taylor to develop the architecture and interior design of the hotel around the theme of time and money. The use of the color orange as accent throughout the hotel is a nod to the historic neighborhood, which was originally set up by the Dutch for trade purposes and called New Amsterdam. Orange is the color of Holland. The artwork displayed throughout the hotel also includes references to themes of time, money, commerce, and the vibrant pace of Lower Manhattan.

The Residence Inn is offering a 10% discount to all guests who mention that they read about the hotel in New York Lifestyles Magazine.

A list of area attractions within walking distance to/from the hotel:

• One World Observatory (only 3 blocks walking)
• 911 Memorial and Museum (Next to Observatory)
• Fulton Street Subway Station – voted #1 in amNewYork as an attraction you can’t miss! Offers nine main subway lines to all five boroughs
• Century 21 Department Store
• Brookfield Place, Le District, Hudson Eats
• TriBeCa, TriBeCa Film Festival, TriBeCa Performing Arts Center (PAC)
• SoHo, Chinatown, Brooklyn Bridge
• Battery Park and Battery Park City
• South Street Seaport
• Seaglass Carousel
• Staten Island Ferry
• Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island
• National Museum of the American Indian, Bowling Green
• NY Film Academy
• Wall Street, NY Federal Reserve Bank, Federal Hall National Memorial and George Washington Statue
• Trinity Church
• Pace University