Back to list May 23, 2014 New Courtyard by Marriott in Shippensburg to bring in $9 million in spending Raider Capital Ventures broke ground Tuesday on a five-star Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Shippensburg. Officials gathered at the ceremony were satisfied with recent economic data showing the hotel will bring $9 million in direct and indirect spending over five years, the Shippensburg University Foundation said in a news release. The four-story, 110-room hotel at the north end of Shippensburg University is planned to open in mid-2015, the release said. Located at 503 Newburg Road, the hotel is owned by Raider Capital Ventures, and will be operated by Shaner Hotels in State College. Shaner Hotels is a developer/owner/operator that currently owns and manages 46 hotels. School district, township, and county tax revenue is estimated at $438,000 over five years. The $14 million hotel is projected to create approximately 26 full-time jobs, the release said. Area business leaders said the hotel will boost the visibility of the Shippensburg area. “This hotel gives not just Volvo but the community access to an upscale standard that will support the future growth not just of the university, not just of Volvo, but the whole entire community and it will continue to provide Volvo specifically with great access to a professional conference center right next door. That means a heck of a lot to us,” said Sean Glennon, vice president of operations and general manager of the nearby Volvo Construction Equipment facility. Raider Capital released more details about hotel plans as well. Each room will feature “plush bedding, a functional work space, spacious bathrooms, a separate seating area and complimentary, in-room, high-speed Internet,” the release said. The lobby will feature bold, contrasting colors, including blue, green, orange and red. The traditional front desk is replaced with separate welcome pedestals “to create more personal and private interactions” with guests, the release said. Lobby seating options range from a communal table, to private media booths with high-definition televisions, to a semi-enclosed lounge area. The lobby is to feature a 52-inch, LCD, touch screen with local information, maps, weather, and news, business and sports headlines. Guests can navigate using the touch screen to find restaurants, local attractions and directions. An enlarged business library is planned with several complimentary computer terminals, along with a free printer and separate computer stations dedicated to printing airline boarding passes and checking flight status, the release said. The hotel will also feature an indoor, heated swimming pool and whirlpool spa, an outdoor courtyard with gas fire pit, fitness center, guest laundry, a restaurant and a 24-hour shop for snacks. “This project is in Cumberland County but it enjoys the full support of the Franklin County Area Economic Development Corp. and the Cumberland County Area Economic Development Corp. working together because it is going to serve the needs of a region that transcends county lines and community lines,” said Mike Ross, president of the FCAEDC. Read the full article from the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal here.
