Ocean City, Md., is experiencing a little boom in branded hotel development. A Hampton Inn opened in late 2012 at 43rd Street and a La Quinta Inn and Holiday Inn Express are under construction. Now it looks like Marriott also has plans to move into the beach community. According to this article from delmarvanow.com, a Residence Inn is expected to take over the former Ocean City Health and Racquet Club.
Although still in early stages of development, the hotel, built on a 4.3-acre parcel, will be owned by Inns of Ocean City. The management company is expected to be Palmer Gosnell Hospitality.
The hotel will feature 150 rooms, ground-floor swimming pools, and 168 parking spaces. The developers are working with local community members to make sure they are pleased with how the project proceeds.
The health-club building was closed in 2010 for serious structural problems, including corroded joists supporting the second story. Developers of the Marriott project plan to start construction in the summer, with an opening scheduled for 2015.
