Aug. 04, 2012--The number of hotel rooms and possibly the Jamestown community's ability to attract tournaments and conventions are getting a boost with the construction of a new hotel.

The Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce held a groundbreaking ceremony for a Hampton Inn and Suites under construction in south Jamestown Friday. When completed, the business will be south of the Grizzly's Grill N' Saloon.

"We're excited to fill a need in Jamestown," said Vibha Patel, owner of the hotel along with her husband, Brian. "It was a dream to make a Hampton Inn, I'm glad to do it in Jamestown."

The $6.5 million project is the 14th hotel or motel facility owned by the Patels in the upper Midwest. The hotel will employ about 40 people when operational.

The Patels were among several participants in the groundbreaking ceremony.

The new hotel will include 90 rooms ranging from suites to smaller single rooms, she said. The facility will also include a pool, two-story breakfast area and meeting rooms with capacity for 40 to 70 people.

The hotel will also boost the community's ability to host large events.

"This should benefit us when it comes to athletic tournaments and conventions," said Kimberly Saxberg, executive director of the chamber.

Jamestown currently has about 500 motel rooms in a variety of facilities, said Nina Sneider, executive director of the Buffalo City Tourism Foundation.

"Anytime you have a new hospitality business it makes us more attractive to conventions and events looking at Jamestown," said Pam Fosse, manager of the Jamestown Civic Center.

Foundation construction is under way on the hotel. The project is slated for completion in April, according to Ken Adams, superintendent for Puetz Corporation, general contractor for the project.

"We're looking for local subcontractors," he said. "A project this size eliminates a lot of the local contractors but we hope to work with as many as we can."

Adams said the project could be finished as early as January if there are no weather delays.

"I'm excited for this project," Vibha Patel said. "I'm from Dickinson and we're always passing through Jamestown and it is such a nice community."

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at [email protected]

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