Travelers Hotel-Motel
Newspaper ad with a description of the hotel's entertainment. 
Long Island City NY Star Journal, 1966 p. 6 
Long Island City NY Star Journal 1961 p. 13 
Long Island City NY Star Journal 1963 July 29, p. 17 
Long Island City NY Star Journal 1964, p. 10 
Long Island City NY Star Journal 1967 p. 7 
The Putnam County Courier 1971 January 27, p. 7
NY Star Journal 1967 November 3, p. 13 Known Name(s)
Travelers Hotel-Motel () Traveler's Hotel Motel () Travelers Hotel () Travelers Motel ()
Address
9400 Ditmars Blvd., (La Guardia Airport), E. Elmhurst 69 Queens, NY
Establishment Type(s)
Hotel
Physical Status
Extant
Description
This Hotel is located at 9400 Ditmars Boulevard, East Elmhurst NY, only .6 miles south of La Guardia Airport. The lot is 78, 496 square feet. The building is a long L-shaped, three-story masonry clad structure with a flat roof. It contains 172 commercial units. A drive-through portico with a gable roof covers the front entrance and provides space where cars can unload luggage and passengers. There is a parking lot unattached to the building’s southern end. The west side of the building on 94th street is lined with greenery enclosed by a metal fence. The east side facing 95th street is lined by a parking lot likely for docking and unloading larger vehicles.
Detailed History
Built in 1956, The Traveler’s Hotel-Motel, or Traveler’s Inn as it was initially called by newspaper ads a year after construction, was an easy-access spot for people flying into La Guardia airport. It advertised rooms with prices described as “moderate,” specifically $6.00 for a single and $7.50 for a double according to a 1962 ad. Guests had access to a luxurious bar, an in-house restaurant with continental cuisine that was famous for its steaks, free parking, and room service from 6:30am till midnight. Advertisements also seemed to target Jewish customers, given an emphasis on Kosher catering options and suggestions that the hotel was a good location for hosting Bar Mitzvahs. Arthur J. Daly was promoted to manager of the establishment in 1964.
The Traveler’s Hotel-Motel was quite the hot spot for all manner of events throughout the late 50s, 60’s. A Long Island City NY Star Journal article touted it as one of the most popular spots for Long Islanders in 1957 and the talk of the social scene with Music Weekends hosted by the internationally known “Mr. Simon.” Even though it could accommodate up to 250 guests, the Traveler’s dining was so popular that the same ’57 article recommended calling Mr. Simon to make reservations if interested. It also served as a location for numerous events including a mobile showcase, a Teeny-Weeny Bikini Contest, job interviews, and even the first of two hearings for the Joint Legislative Committee to discuss Blue Laws. The hotel also commonly hosted sports teams flying into the area, such as the Mets in 1964, likely in part because of its proximity to the airport.
In 1966, Long Island City NY Star Journal reported that a paraplegic man named Monroe Lerman had been robbed while staying at The Traveler’s Motel. The thief stole $270 and escaped in the man’s custom white convertible. Today, the building is used by two different organizations; the southern half is occupied by The Landing at La Guardia Hotel while the north half is a homeless shelter facility for the community organization CAMBA.
