There is no reason why the community of Bridgman shouldn’t have a hotel, and now the community has an in depth study to prove it. Business leaders have long asked for a hotel in the beach town along Lake Michigan and their desire is fully warranted according to the study released today by the local chamber.
The Greater Bridgman Area Chamber of Commerce and Growth Alliance (CGA), in partnership with Indiana Michigan Power, engaged HVS Consulting & Valuation Division of TS Worldwide, LLC., to produce a Hotel Market Study for the greater Bridgman area.
The study clearly indicates that the greater Bridgman area can support a 65-to-80 room limited service hotel, and that data will now be used by Indiana Michigan Power, a division of American Electric Power, and the CGA to entice hotel development in the region.
The detailed, 115-page study focuses on a more than 13-acre site along Red Arrow Highway southwest of the I-94 interchange, on the opposite side of Red Arrow from the BP Service Station, mid-way between Weko Beach and Warren Dunes State Park as the prime location for such a hotel. The vacant land is currently on the market for $1.49-million according to the study, however there is no current developer in hand.
Calli Berg is Executive Director of the CGA. She says, “Our business community, which includes stakeholders in manufacturing, commercial, retail and tourism industries, have long been asking for a hotel in our region.” Now she reports, “We are thrilled with the results of the study and will be using this tool to identify and work with hotel developers to make this long-anticipated development a reality.”
Shelley Klug, who serves as Economic & Business Development Manager with Indiana Michigan Power, adds “We are pleased with the results of the study and appreciate this opportunity to partner with the CGA on bringing new investment and the potential of more than 25 jobs to the community.” She says, “We look for ways to support our local communities and this is another great example of how we can help stimulate economic development.”
The study was completed on March 9, 2017 and its executive summary addresses the property matter-of-factly, as if the deal were ready to roll saying, in part, :
“The brand affiliation of the proposed hotel has not yet been selected at the time of this report; we recommend a hotel in the midscale, limited-service chainscale segment. This segment of brands include the Comfort Inn, Comfort Inn & Suites, Best Western, Baymont Inn, Microtel Inn & Suites, and Tru by Hilton. Additionally, we recommend the size of the hotel to be somewhere in the range of 65-85 rooms.
For purposes of this report, we have assumed a 65-room Comfort Inn & Suites. We found that full-service development was not supported at this time The property, which is expected to open on January 1, 2019, will feature approximately 65 rooms, a breakfast dining area, an indoor pool, a fitness room, a lobby workstation, a sundries counter, a guest laundry room, and vending areas. The hotel will also contain the appropriate parking capacity and all necessary back-of-the-house space.
The proposed hotel would be the first hotel in the city of Bridgman. The assumed site is proximate to the Weko Beach Park, and city officials noted the potential to construct a walkway from the hotel to the park, allowing hotel guests direct access to the beach. The subject site’s location is 10530 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman, Michigan, 49106. As noted previously, other parcels in similar locations proximate to Interstate 94 along Red Arrow Highway may also be viable for hotel development as long as the parcels have similar location, visibility, and accessibility attributes.”
A limited service hotel typically offers a breakfast dining area, workout room, indoor pool, fitness room, lobby workstation, sundries counter, guest laundry room, and vending areas. Tim Kading, President of the CGA, says “with our proximity to I-94, Weko Beach, Warren Dunes, and the many breweries, restaurants, and wineries in the area, a hotel development here makes good sense and is an excellent opportunity to capture both travelers passing through and guests who are playing or doing business in our community.” He added, “With over two million visitors who come to visit our Lake Michigan beaches, we know we have a ready market to easily fill a hotel.”
The Greater Bridgman Area Chamber and Growth Alliance provides economic and community development services for Bridgman and Lake Township. To learn more about the CGA or to read the complete study, go to lake2grapes.com or visit their facebook page at facebook.com/bridgmanarea. For additional information or to request a hard copy of the study, call 269-465-4413.
Here is a link to the full report as delivered to the Bridgman Chamber: (click the tab Hotel Market Study)
http://www.lake2grapes.com/hotel-study
You can also find a support letter there from Bill Schalk at the Cook Nuclear Plant indicating the need for the hotel, by click that corresponding link.
Stay tuned.
