Emerald Hospitality Associates announced today the commencement of the Riverbend Hotel and Suites, a Trademark Collection by Wyndham in Ashtabula, Ohio. The $11 million project is being developed by Riverbend Hotel LLC 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 will be operated under a franchise agreement with Wyndham Hotels.
“We are delighted to bring this transformational project to fruition and to have Emerald Hospitality and Wyndham Hotels as our operating and franchise partners,” said Todd Canter. “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. The rooftop bar and event center will be unequaled and will offer the best views of the harbor and the lake in the region.”
Thoughtfully situated on the bend of the Ashtabula River and steps from the shores of Lake Erie, the Riverbend Hotel & Suites is a gateway to Ohio wine and covered bridge country. The Riverbend Hotel beautifully merges post-industrial influences with modern amenities, midwestern hospitality and world-class luxury. The hotel is inspired by the past and rooted in the future.
Designed for travelers seeking distinctive, attainable accommodations in sought-after destinations, each hotel within the Trademark Collection by Wyndham brand maintains its own unique attributes, making the Riverbend Hotel & Suites a natural fit for the brand. The brand recently celebrated its five-year anniversary, and has been on a steady growth trajectory with more than 145 hotels open, including more than 35 in just the last 18 months.
“This hotel is the perfect addition to the Trademark Collection brand,” said Chip Ohlsson, Chief Development Officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Its opening expands experiences for everyday travelers, while further enhancing the Historic District. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s prime location and unmatched spectacular panoramic views of the Ashtabula Harbor.”
In addition to luxuriously styled guest rooms and suites, guests will be able to experience the buzz of the lobby café that will offer a selection of local provisions, fresh baked goods, specialty house coffee and tea and snacks. Hotel guests can also enjoy regional wine and spirits at the area’s only rooftop bar where they will have plenty of opportunities to sample the area’s best flavors. The rooftop bar and event center will offer spectacular views of the bascule lift bridge rising over the Ashtabula River and will accommodate parties up to 175 people.
“I am truly grateful that Larry Laurello, Pete Huggins and Todd Canter are willing to invest in the City of Ashtabula,” said Jim Timonere, Ashtabula City Manager. “The Riverbend Hotel is a much-needed addition to our Historic Harbor and will transform tourism to Bridge Street. The economic impact of this development will not only touch our local merchants, but many businesses in Ashtabula County. We cannot thank these entrepreneurs enough for bringing this much needed asset to our City.”
