159-Room Hyatt Place Omaha to be First Hyatt-Branded hotel in
Nebraska, Joining 650-Associate Hyatt Worldwide Reservation Center
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced the groundbreaking today for the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Nebraska, Hyatt Place Omaha Downtown/Old Market. The investment of Hyatt affiliates in the purchase of the land and the construction of the hotel, which Hyatt affiliates will own and manage, will total approximately $27 million.
Once open, the hotel is expected to create about 50 full-time jobs in Omaha, which is also home to the Worldwide Reservation Center for all Hyatt-branded hotels worldwide.
The reservation center has grown from 14 associates in 1972 to 650 associates today and provides reservation assistance, customer service and sales support for Hyatt-branded hotels seven days a week, 365 days a year.
[quote]”I am delighted to welcome the first Hyatt property to our state,” said Gov. Dave Heineman. “Downtown Omaha is a good location, being the Home of the College World Series and nationally recognized Henry Doorly Zoo. I want to offer my congratulations to everyone who played a role in this project. This collaboration is another reason why Nebraska is the ideal place to live, to work, and to raise a family.”[/quote]
Governor Heineman, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, and Greater Omaha Chamber President David Brown joined Hyatt executives and other dignitaries at the Hyatt Place Omaha Downtown/Old Market hotel site today to celebrate the kick off of construction of the new hotel, which is slated to open in 2014.
?We welcome this significant investment in Omaha,? said Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle. ?We are glad we were able to work very closely with Hyatt to help bring to Omaha the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Nebraska. We look forward to the hotel?s grand opening, which we know will bring many additional economic benefits to the city.?
Hyatt Place Omaha Downtown/Old Market will have 159 rooms in a stand-alone, ten-story building with self-contained parking, located at the northwest corner of Jackson Street and 12th Street.
The hotel, designed by the Chicago office of the DLR Group, will be situated amidst Omaha?s arts and entertainment center that features fine dining, shopping, corporate meeting facilities, and upscale nightlife. Woodbine Development is overseeing the development of the project on behalf of Hyatt affiliates, with Hawkins Construction as General Contractor.
?This project provided us with a unique opportunity in a city that is already very significant to Hyatt,? said Kevin Schramm, vice president of development for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. ?Hyatt Place Omaha Downtown/Old Market will be a valuable addition to the expanding roster of urban Hyatt Place locations, and we look forward to introducing this innovative brand to the city.?
?We?ve seen a downtown Omaha revitalization within the last decade, especially with the addition of major developments like the Holland Performing Arts Center, CenturyLink Center and TD Ameritrade Park. Now we will add Hyatt Place to the ever-growing list and we are proud to have played a role,? said Greater Omaha Chamber President David G. Brown. ?Hyatt?s investment and job creation speaks volumes about the strength of our economy and the appeal of the Old Market area.?
Currently, there are 167 Hyatt Place hotels in operation in the United States, with more than 35 announced projects under development throughout the U.S., China, Europe, Southwest Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Source: Hyatt Hotels Corp