Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has started construction of the Riverbend Hotel and Suites, a Trademark Collection by Wyndham, in Ashtabula, Ohio. The $11 million project is being developed by Riverbend Hotel, a partnership consisting of local entrepreneurs Larry Laurello and Pete Huggins, as well as Todd Canter, the former Asia Pacific CEO of LaSalle Investment Management (Securities). The hotel will be managed by Emerald Hospitality and operated under a long-term franchise agreement with Wyndham Hotels & Resort’s Trademark brand.
“We are delighted to bring this transformational project to fruition and to have Emerald Hospitality and Wyndham Hotels as our operating and franchise partners,” Canter said in a statement. “I am grateful for the resiliency of my partners and a host of others who made it possible to get this 43-room hotel under construction and ready for opening in the summer of 2023. I believe the rooftop bar and event center will be unequaled and will offer the best views of the harbor and the lake in the region.”
The hotel will merge post-industrial influences with modern amenities, Midwestern hospitality and luxury.
“This hotel will be a great addition to the Trademark Collection brand, and when it opens, it will expand experiences for everyday travelers while further enhancing Ashtabula’s Historic District,” said Chip Ohlsson, Wyndham's chief development officer. “It’s been delightful to work with Larry Laurello, Pete Huggins and Todd Canter on a project that will create an experience for guests to enjoy the city’s prime location and spectacular panoramic views of the Ashtabula Harbor.”
In addition to styled guestrooms and suites, the hotel will have the area’s only rooftop bar. The rooftop bar and event center will offer views of the bascule lift bridge rising over the Ashtabula River and will accommodate parties up to 175 people.