Hampton Inn Princeton, which opened Jan. 28 in South Brunswick, is latest addition, with a Marriott Residence Inn in West Windsor to follow.
By: Gwen McNamara
Whether business or pleasure, there’s no shortage of places to stay along the Route 1 corridor. But despite the region’s fierce competition, two new hotels are betting they can make it big.
The Hampton Inn Princeton, which opened Jan. 28 in South Brunswick on southbound Route 1, just south of the Ridge Road intersection, touts its business-friendly accommodations.
"Our rooms are really mini-suites," said Anthony Scotto, CEO of Scotto Brothers, the Woodbury, N.Y., hospitality company that owns and operates the hotel. "Most of our rooms are 440 square feet in size, quite a bit more than most other rooms in the area which average 300 square feet. We plan to target the business traveler and can accommodate extended stay clientele. We did our homework and feel with our product we can excel."
Farther south on Route 1, a Residence Inn by Marriott is in the final stages of construction off Canal Pointe Boulevard in West Windsor. The four-story hotel, being built behind an AmeriSuites hotel and adjacent to the MarketFair mall, is expected to open in late March.
"Our property stands out because of what we have to offer and our location," said Denise Bradshaw, general manager. "We offer more than a mini-fridge and microwave. Our 110 one- and two-bedroom suites feature fully stocked kitchens, living room, bedroom and bath, as well as high-speed Internet access."
"Plus on Route 1, not everyone can say they are within walking distance of shopping, restaurants and the movies," added Debbie Parylak, director of sales for the hotel. "Our guests have it all to stay in, but we give them the best of both worlds."
What attracted both hotels to the area? Economic growth.
"Growth specifically in the Carnegie Center area warranted an extended-stay hotel," said Ms. Parylak of the Residence Inn. "There are many new faces and more companies, like Tyco and NRG Energy, are moving their headquarters to the area. That and given the traffic around here, if a businessperson were offered the choice of staying three or four miles up or down Route 1, or at a hotel right at Carnegie Center, they’d opt to come here."
"There are other extended-stays," added Ms. Bradshaw. "But not geographically nearby. The hotels near here like the Hyatt Regency Princeton, Doral Forrestal Conference Center & Spa, or Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village don’t factor into our business at all."
Mr. Scotto, of the Hampton Inn, noted that while the hospitality industry as a whole did face setbacks post 9/11, the hotel market here has since picked up nicely.
"With the businesses here things look strong," he said. "What clinched it for us is, after looking at the hotels out there and we studied most of them there was nothing new out there. We decided we could liven things up and are now the only Hilton product in Mercer County."
Work began on the Hampton Inn shortly after a fire dashed Mr. Scotto’s first attempt at building a hotel on the site in 2002.
"We were three months away from opening when the fire happened," he said. "It was a setback, but on the good side, no one was hurt and we got the chance to refocus and come up with an even better hotel."
The three-story Hampton Inn has a total of 110 rooms decorated in a warm palate of colors.
"We want you to feel like home," Mr. Scotto said. Which is why rooms not only have normal standards double bed, desk, pull-out sleeper chair, TV, fridge and microwave but special touches as well.
"We have high-speed Internet, two phone lines, a radio clock, granite countertops and a curved shower rod so the curtain won’t stick to you," said Robert Borch, director of sales for the Hampton Inn.
The hotel also has a high-tech conference room that can fit 20 people, a fitness room, laundry facility and outdoor pool and patio.
In the lobby, full breakfasts are served each morning. Full dinners are served Monday through Thursday and everything comes with a "100 percent guarantee."
"We have a value pledge if you’re not satisfied, you don’t have to pay," Mr. Borch said. "It all comes down to how you treat your guests," said Mr. Scotto. "I’ve been in hospitality my whole life, and unless your different, you’ll just be a ‘me too.’ We are no ‘me too.’"
Construction on the Residence Inn by Marriott, being managed by Paramount Hotel Group of Fairfield, began in 2001.
The hotel, which is targeted to serve not only extended-stay business clients, but also average people in transition those moving in and out of a new home, visiting family, etc., prides itself in its rooms.
The one- and two-bedroom suites are 50 percent larger than the traditional hotel room and feature separate working, eating and sleeping areas. High-speed Internet is wired to each room, along with two phone lines.
The hotel also has an indoor heated pool, exercise room and sports court, meeting space for 30 people, guest laundry, wireless Internet access in public areas, a 24-hour grocery service, shuttle service within a 5-mile radius, complimentary daily breakfast buffet and evening social hour Monday through Thursday.
"We’ve got everything to make your stay as comfortable as possible," Ms. Parylak said.