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The Northland Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, Completes Exterior Renovations and Launches
Second Phase of its $24 Million Renovation

Managed by StepStone Hospitality, to Become Minneapolis
Marriott Northwest During Summer 2012


BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (January 2012)
– With the exterior renovations complete, the Northland Inn Hotel and Conference Center is launching the second phase of its $24 million investment and evolution to become a cornerstone property in the Marriott Hotels family. The hotel, located in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, Minn., is undergoing an extensive renovation prior to becoming the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest during summer 2012.

The most notable exterior changes are the addition of new limestone and granite stonework and ornamental metalwork to the porte cochere. The changes to the main entrance create a more dramatic sense of arrival. Upgrades also include adding a new roof, replacing damaged bricks, adding new exterior lighting and painting the building exterior. A few upgrades will wait until warmer weather next spring, including landscaping and a new irrigation system.
 
“Guests are noticing the renovations even before they arrive at the hotel,” said Thomas Russo, chief executive officer, StepStone Hospitality, the management company for the hotel. “This is the first major exterior upgrade since the hotel opened in 1990, so it is a very exciting time for everyone.”
 
The next phase of renovations will include guest rooms and meeting space. The 230-room hotel has space to handle meetings for up to 600 guests. After the renovations are complete, the hotel will offer three ballrooms, a 140-seat amphitheatre, executive board room and 25 meeting breakout rooms. All guest rooms will be refurbished with the Marriott guestroom package.
 
“The changes are impressive, and guests are excited to see them becoming a reality,” added Mike Brunkow, general manager. “We invite guests and meeting planners to tour our model rooms while they are here so they get a sense of the new design and décor. Visitors seem to appreciate the sophisticated, yet functional look and feel of the new rooms.”
 
Additional planned changes include replacing the existing front desk area with Marriott’s signature front desk reception pods and adding a massive natural stone fireplace to the lobby to create a Great Room. Other changes include dramatically expanding the fitness center and adding state-of-the-art fitness equipment, creating a new restaurant concept and adding a third ballroom. The hotel has more than 33,000 square feet of meeting space, making it one the top ten conference hotels in the Twin Cities area. The hotel will remain open during the renovations.

The hotel was purchased in October 2010 by a joint venture between principals of Rhode Island-based Hotel Asset Value Enhancement Inc. and an institutional investment fund subadvised by Long Wharf Real Estate Partners LLC. StepStone Hospitality took over management of the property following the acquisition.

About the Northland Inn
Conveniently situated at the intersection of Interstate 94 and Boone Avenue, the Northland Inn is just minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. The hotel has 230 two-room and three-room suites featuring some of the most spacious guestrooms in the Upper Midwest..

About Long Wharf Real Estate Partners LLC
Long Wharf Real Estate Partners LLC is a Boston-based private equity real estate investment manager formed in July 2011 following the spin-out of the Fidelity Real Estate Group from Fidelity Investments.  Long Wharf currently manages two value-added real estate funds with aggregate committed capital of $1.5 billion from 60 institutional investors.

About Hotel Asset Value Enhancement (hotelAVE)
Rhode Island-based Hotel Asset Value Enhancement Inc. (hotelAVE) is the nation’s largest hotel real estate advisory firm, specializing in asset management and due diligence for the hospitality industry.  hotelAVE has over $2B of hotel assets under management and an additional $4B of hotel assets for which it provides advisory services, including many of the world’s largest banks and investment funds.

About StepStone Hospitality
Rhode Island-based StepStone Hospitality specializes in management for full-service hotel and restaurant operations. The company provides a unique combination of strong, hands-on operations, world-class strategic asset management, and food and beverage expertise, maintaining a balanced focus between revenue enhancement, margin expansion and guest satisfaction.

About Marriott International
Visit Marriott International Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

Contact: 

Shelley Rapier
StepStone Hospitality
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 407-492-5984

 


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Also See: The Northland Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Managed by StepStone Hospitality, to Become Marriott Minneapolis Northwest Following a $24 Million Renovation / October 2011

Mike Brunkow Named General Manager of the Northland Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota / January 2011

Hotel Asset Value Enhancement Inc. and an Investment Fund Acquire Minneapolis's Northland Inn; StepStone Hospitality Will Take Over Management of the 231-room Property / October 2010

Northland Inn, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota Moves Closer to Foreclosure; Benchmark Hospitality Appointed Receiver / July 2009


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