Hotels finding NH lakes

By ROGER AMSDEN, New Hampshire Sunday News Correspondent

May 18, 2008 - TILTON -- The first hotels affiliated with national chains ever built in the Lakes Region will open here within a mile of each other next month.

The 92-unit Hampton Inn on state Route 3 and the 64-unit Holiday Inn on state Route 140, both in the Exit 20 area off of Interstate 93, may be just the first step, said Laconia economist Russ Thibeault.

"My first thought when I heard about them was 'What took them so long?' " said Thibeault, who points out that since he moved to the Lakes Region in the early 1970s the area has lost more than 1,000 guest rooms to condominium conversions, a change that with impact on the tourist economy.

Thibeault said that, aside from the Misty Harbor Resort in Gilford in the early 1990s and Hampshire Hospitality Holdings' three resort-inns in Meredith, which have opened over the last 10 years, there hasn't been any new overnight lodging added in decades in the Lakes Region.

"Everything has been condominiums, either built from the ground up or converted resorts and cabin colonies," said Thibeault. He said the area is ripe for the development of more hotels and national chains have recognized that fact.

A third national chain, Marriott, last month received approval from the Gilford Planning Board for a 75-unit Marriott Towne Place Suites which will be built just off the Laconia bypass and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2009.

"It's healthy for the region. Travelers like a brand name. They know what to expect," said Thibeault.

David Johnston of the Moultonborough Hotel Group, whose company is making a $12 million bet that the area needs quality lodging like that which will be provided at the four-story, 92-unit Hampton Inn, said traffic studies that he saw showed that the hotel would be a good investment.

"Right now people looking for these kinds of accommodations stay in Concord. We're very confident that we will have a strong business traveler clientele as well as the seasonal tourist traffic," said Johnston. The inn will have wireless Internet, business conference rooms and a business center, as well as amenities such as a pool and fitness center.

It is being built on a 2.48-acre site on the south side of Rte. 3-11, which was formerly the location of the Tilton 500 go-kart track and mini golf course, which Johnston bought in July of 2006 for $1.05 million.

Johnston hired Roedel Cos. of Wilton, the firm which built the Hilton Garden Inn at the Manchester Fisher Cats ballpark in Manchester, to design, build and manage the property. The company manages 36 hotels for its clients, according to David Roedel, and has been serving clients in the hospitality field for 40 years.

Mark Woglom of Opechee Construction, the firm which is building the Holiday Inn Express in Tilton, said he was able to win approval in Gilford for the new Marriott after reducing the number of units from 78 to 75 and increasing parking.
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