Source : http://www.carolinacoastonline.com
Category : Hotels In Carolina Beach
By : Beach Hotel
Posted By : Hotels Carolina Beach NC
The new owners of the former Atlantic Beach Sheraton, which has been closed since Hurricane Irene in 2011, announced Wednesday the oceanfront hotel will begin taking job applications May 1.
As reported earlier this year, Hilton Worldwide and Newport Group plan to reopen the former Sheraton as a DoubleTree by Hilton June 1.
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The hotel will begin accepting applications on site for all open positions, ranging from food service to hotel management positions. Inquiries about employment opportunities can be sent to info@newportgroupinc.com.
The hotel was acquired by Newport Group of Augusta, Ga., in December 2012 and is undergoing a $5 million renovation.
Throughout the renovation, the property will go through upgrades to the lobby and front desk areas as well as complete guest room makeovers to achieve a sophisticated, “beach modern” design direction, according to the company.
The hotel’s restaurant, Molly’s, will also reopen with a new look, the company said.
“This is an exciting time not only for Newport Group and DoubleTree by Hilton, but for the Atlantic Beach community, which has truly felt the economic impact of losing their only full-service beach-front hotel for nearly two years,” said Marty Matfess, vice president of operations for the Newport Group. “The announcement of the new hotel has been embraced both by leaders and members of this community who are eager to see the DoubleTree by Hilton Atlantic Beach Hotel revitalize tourism and bring new employment opportunities to their dynamic beach town.”
“The charming Atlantic Beach community is an ideal fit for the DoubleTree by Hilton brand,” said John Greenleaf, global head of DoubleTree by Hilton. “Together with our long-time partner, Newport Group, we look forward to meeting visitor’s needs for an upscale, full-service hotel offering with the DoubleTree by Hilton Atlantic Beach Hotel.”
The closure of the 200-room hotel, the largest on Bogue Banks, has had a noticeable effect on the tourism industry in Carteret County.
County Tourism Development Authority Director Carol Lohr said collections of the county’s 5 percent occupancy tax on hotel and motel rooms, cottages and condos have been down as a result of the closure. It has also affected the job market here, she said Thursday.
“I’m just thrilled that they’re reopening and I think the displaced workers will be happy to come back and apply for positions they held previously, as well as new folks,” Ms. Lohr said.
Also, in addition to offering fewer accommodations options for vacationing families, the county lost a significant amount of business from events, groups and meetings that typically reserved rooms and facilities at the hotel as a result of the closure. The planned reopening comes at a good time for both the family vacation season, which is set to begin, and the group tours and events that are important during the non-peak “shoulder seasons” of early spring and late fall, Ms. Lohr said.
“Right now, meeting planners and motor coach folks are planning and they usually plan at least a year out. Finally, we will be able to sell the DoubleTree as an option,” she said. “We lost 91 events that had been booked at the Sheraton in 2011. We rebooked as many as possible at other area venues but a lot of them did go to Wilmington.”
The Newport Group has hotels ranging from limited service to full-service properties operating under Hilton, Starwood, IHG and Wyndham brands.
DoubleTree by Hilton also operates a hotel on the New Bern riverfront, about 32 miles from the Atlantic Beach hotel.
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