A 35-year ground lease for ILM Airport Hotel Partners was approved at the April 6 New Hanover County Airport Authority meeting. The developers plan to work alongside IHG Hotels & Resorts to build a Crowne Plaza hotel.
“We’re looking forward to working alongside IHG Hotels & Resorts to bring the Crowne Plaza Wilmington International Airport to the ILM Business Park,” stated Andrew Weiss, developer with ILM Airport Hotel Partners.
“The ongoing development at the ILM Business Park, growth in the airport’s passenger numbers, and proximity to downtown made this project a homerun,” added Chip Weiss, Jr., developer at ILM Airport Hotel Partners.
The Crowne Plaza Wilmington International Airport’s convenient location will accommodate both business and leisure travelers passing through one of southeastern North Carolina’s largest cities. The hotel will be the first hotel to open in the 140-acre ILM Business Park – located steps away from the Wilmington International Airport terminal and within four miles of the Wilmington Historic District. Additionally, the hotel extends Crowne Plaza’s legacy of successful destination properties strategically situated near major international airports and travel hubs.
Donna Girardot, chairman of the New Hanover County Airport Authority stated, “We are excited ILM Airport Hotel Partners selected the ILM Business Park and is investing $40 million with plans to develop a Crowne Plaza hotel. We have sought an upscale hotel for our ILM Business Park that would offer a convenient, productive, and relaxing option for ILM’s business and leisure travelers. With the variety of rooms, meeting and event space, food and beverage options — including a ground floor restaurant and a rooftop restaurant and bar — we are confident the new Crowne Plaza Wilmington International Airport will be utilized by ILM’s growing passengers and the community alike.”
“With this investment in the ILM Business Park, it is anticipated 150 jobs will be generated during the construction phase and then 125 permanent jobs will be generated at the hotel and restaurant,” Girardot shared.
The six-story, 150-room hotel will host a variety of spaces and amenities to meet any business or leisure need. Guests will experience Crowne Plaza’s unique design style which integrates work and personal needs, featuring co-working zones and relaxing spaces for both productivity and restoration. The Crowne Plaza Wilmington International Airport additionally will offer flexible, all-day dining across its restaurant, lounge and rooftop bar, allowing guests to eat or snack while conducting business or personal engagements. Business travelers and meeting planners can also leverage the hotel’s more than 5,000 square feet of event space, including 3,500 square feet of meeting space to conduct successful live and hybrid meetings.
“The Crowne Plaza brand has long been synonymous with exceptional business travel, and as the lines between personal and business travel continue to blend, we look forward to offering an inspiring, new alternative for any guest visiting the Wilmington area,” said Ginger Taggart, vice president, Global Upscale Brand – Crowne Plaza Brand Marketing, IHG Hotels & Resorts. “We’re thrilled to once again work alongside Andrew Weiss and Chip Weiss, Jr. to bring this renowned brand to the area and make the Crowne Plaza Wilmington International Airport a modern destination for purposeful engagement.”
“The airport is often the first impression for visitors to New Hanover County, and that impression will be even better and stronger with the addition of a hotel at ILM,” said Julia Olson-Boseman, chair of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. “It will further enhance the travel experience to and from our community, while also providing something for residents in our region to utilize, including luxurious accommodations, abundant meeting space and dining with a view. It’s an exciting project that brings new opportunities and growth, and we cannot wait to see the doors open to ILM’s first hotel.”
In the last 6 months alone, 75 acres of new ground leases have been signed at the ILM Business Park including 1 million square feet of warehouse space as well as cold storage and distribution space for the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry, 150 hotel rooms, and 5,000 square feet of meeting and event space. “We are so pleased to see the growth occurring at the Business Park and on behalf of the Airport team I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to ILM Airport Hotel Partners for selecting the ILM Business Park for the new Crowne Plaza Wilmington International Airport hotel. We look forward to a long-term partnership,” shared Jeff Bourk, airport director.
