First Columbia announced the construction of a $30 million dual-branded Marriott to begin this summer 2017.
The developer, First Columbia LLC of Latham, cleared another hurdle when the town planning board Tuesday night approved a new rendering showing a Residence Inn by Marriott, an extended-stay brand, connected to Courtyard by Marriott at 227 Wolf Road.
First Columbia President Kevin Bette said the hotels will have 205 rooms under one roof, split about evenly between both brands. The combining brands is a new and upcoming practice in the hotel industry, enabling owners to appeal to more customers on the same property. Marriott has more than 50 dual-branded hotels, and is building a tri-branded hotel, its first, in Nashville, according to The New York Times.
The hotel, will site on the same site as the new headquarters of Pioneer Bank near the Albany Shaker Road and Wolf Road intersection. The two properties will share a parking lot and be developed entirely by First Columbia.
“From my standpoint, Marriott has the best reservation system in the industry,” Bette said. “Dual-brand allows us to have great common areas. It will give the guest a lot better experience than a free-standing property. Marriott agrees. That’s why they’re pushing to upgrade hotels in the area so they can compete better with the market.”
The new Marriott will be just a few minutes’ drive from Albany International Airport, giving travelers another option compared to the numerous hotels nearby, including the 356-room Albany Marriott at 189 Wolf Road.
“Everybody is asking, ‘Why are you building another hotel?'” Bette said. “We’re just giving guests another choice. It’s a good choice, and something that our area lacks compared to other areas where we’re trying to attract business.”