STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on Tuesday for the first extended-stay hotel in Portage County.
The Home2 Suites by Hilton will bring 91 rooms to the Stevens Point Industrial Park on John Joanis Drive next summer. Michael Hunt of Ledgestone Hospitality, the group that will manage the property, says it’s an underserved area.
“When I put myself in their shoes, [those companies] have guests, business partners coming in from out of town. [They don’t want to] go across town or a different city,” said Hunt. “And we will have everything that they need. Breakfast, a gift shop, fitness center, swimming pool- everything that they would want.”
He says the metrics have shown that Portage County and Stevens Point can support another hotel.
“What we look at is the demand within the market. There is enough demand because the demand is overflowing. When you have occupancies that are higher than normal and growing year-over-year- it’s basic economics. Supply is down, demand is up; it’s a perfect location,” said Hunt.
He adds that extended-stay hotels offer many of the same amenities that regular properties in the Hilton brand do such as indoor pools and fitness/business centers but have rooms that are tailored more for guests that are staying for more than a week. That includes a full kitchen and refrigerator for guests. “People can live there for months,” added Hunt.
Construction on the property actually began in July and is scheduled to last through the winter. The hotel is currently slated to open by July 2024.
