May 05–There will be a new place to stay in Derry Twp.

Courtyard by Marriott Hershey is being built at 515 E. Chocolate Ave. The four-story Hershey area hotel will have 120 rooms.

The hotel will also feature an indoor heated swimming pool and whirlpool spa, an outdoor courtyard with a gas fire pit and a fitness center. The hotel will also be home to The Market, a 24/7 shop for snacks and beverages. Each room will feature a work space, spacious bathrooms, a separate seating area and in-room high-speed internet.

The hotel is expected to employ 26 full-time employees and is owned by Bears Creek Hershey Hotel LLC which includes Chafia Capital Partners, a real estate investment and private equity firm based in New Jersey and the Shaner Hotel Holdings LP which is based in Patton Twp., Centre County. Lancaster County-based, High Construction Company will serve as the general contractor.

Shaner Hotel Holdings LP will manage the hotel. Shaner Hotels currently owns and manages 50 hotels in 15 states, Italy and the Bahamas including Courtyard Harrisburg West Mechanicsburg in Lower Allen Twp. and Courtyard Shippensburg in Southampton Twp. Shaner is also finalizing approvals with the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority to develop a new hotel at Harrisburg International Airport in Lower Swatara Twp.

The new hotel in Derry Twp. will likely open in 2017.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/09/first_hotel_is_coming_to_harri.html