NATIONAL REPORT—Management companies are developing and opening hotels as well as beefing up their portfolios. Here’s a look:
Charlestowne Welcomes The Inn at Elon
Charlestowne Hotels has opened The Inn at Elon, a four-star hotel and conference facility, which sits directly on the Elon University campus.
The $31-million facility is owned by an affiliated entity of the university, The Inn at Elon LLC, and fulfills a long-standing goal of having an on-campus hotel to host visitors to the university and the surrounding region.
The 80-room inn has 10 suites along with 70 rooms with king-size and queen or double beds.
Property features include an upscale restaurant and lounge, The Mark at Elon, as well as an outdoor courtyard with fire pits, fitness center, dedicated on-site parking, valet and bell service, and complimentary bicycle rentals for guests to explore the campus, which is designated as a botanical garden.
“When we got the call to join Elon University in developing The Inn at Elon, we jumped at the chance to add this property to our portfolio of university hotels. The college hospitality market continues to expand and evolve with enhanced quality of stay, high-touch services and elevated amenities,” said Jennifer West, director of operations at Charlestowne Hotels. “We collaborated with Elon to develop a distinct brand and property features that pay tribute to the university connection while maintaining a sophisticated boutique hotel atmosphere—choosing purposeful, refined comforts over thematic design.”
HVMG to Manage Holiday Inn Savannah Historic District
Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) has been awarded the management contract for the 127-room Holiday Inn Savannah Historic District on behalf of ownership, Key International, a Miami-based real estate investment and development company.
“With us being based in Atlanta and having 12 additional hotels throughout Georgia and North Florida, we are familiar with the marketplace and the proper positioning for the hotel,” said Robert Cole, president/CEO, HVMG. “The Holiday Inn Savannah Historic District enjoys an enviable location in Historic Savannah, affording visitors quality accommodations in the heart of downtown.”
Located at 520 W. Bryan St., the five-floor hotel is set in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District, surrounded by River St. and City Market, as well as Forsyth Park. Amenities include an outdoor pool, 24/7 fitness center, bar/lounge, full business center and 2,285 sq. ft. of meeting space. Guestrooms provide complimentary WiFi and wired internet, LCD TVs, pillowtop beds and room service.
Aimbridge to Manage Westin Boston Waterfront
Aimbridge Hospitality has been selected to manage the Westin Boston Waterfront, a 793-room contemporary hotel connected to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
Westin Boston Waterfront is owned by DiamondRock Hospitality Company, a self-advised real estate investment trust with 31 premium hotels and resorts throughout U.S. The hotel is operated under a franchise agreement with Westin Hotels, a subsidiary of Marriott International, which expires in 2026.
The hotel is expecting 2020 to be a record year in group room nights sold with more than 130,000 group room nights already under contract for the year, a 27% increase over the group pace at the same time last year.
There’s nearly 90,000 sq. ft. of flexible event space consisting of 27 venues, including a grand ballroom. The on-site restaurant Sauciety dishes out handcrafted American signature menu items, and Birch Bar serves inventive cocktails in a serene atmosphere. Fitness features include the WestinWorkout Fitness Studio, an indoor heated pool, Whirlpool and eight Peloton bikes.