News Release: June 11, 2002For years, the ten-story high rise sat vacant, a blight on the city of Elizabeth's redevelopment efforts. But a $35 million renovation has put a new shine in the Newark International Airport district and a 2002 New Good Neighbor Award in Wyndham Hotel's trophy case.
"Though battling the post-September 11 travel decline, the Wyndham team's diligence and community outreach paid off," said Barbara Kauffman, executive vice president of the Regional Business Partnership, who nominated Wyndham. "The property opened one month ahead of schedule and exceeded all expectations in its first month of operation."
"This is a high profile project that replaces a vacant building with a first rate hotel, meeting center and restaurant," NJBIA President Joe Gonzalez said. "Wyndham is to be congratulated for such a successful project. This will be a real asset for Newark International and the City of Elizabeth."
As the latest addition to the competitive hospitality market surrounding the airport, the Wyndham features 396 hotel rooms and more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space. It features the 7,280-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 600 people, and the 3,872-square-foot Elizabeth Ballroom for up to 300 people.
The ten-story hotel also offers an executive boardroom, state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and Internet access in all meeting rooms.
The full service restaurant, Shula's Steak 2, is named after former NFL coaching great Don Shula, who attended the grand opening reception. The sports-themed restaurant features 65 televisions showing all manner of sporting events.
This major renovation and expansion was designed by Cooper Carry Architects and Planners of New York City and built by Jayeff Construction Corp. of Manasquan.
All in all, the project generated 303 construction jobs and is supporting 220 jobs, most of which are full-time.
The Wyndham is already taking steps to ensure that it contributes to the community. During its grand opening reception, it raised more than $11,000 for the CJ Foundation for SIDS.
Wyndham Newark Airport was honored June 11 at NJBIA's Annual New Good Neighbor Awards Luncheon at the Sheraton at Woodbridge Place in Iselin.
The New Good Neighbor Awards program, now celebrating its 42nd year, recognizes newly built or renovated facilities that have created jobs and contributed to the quality of life in their communities. This year's 13 winners were selected from 45 projects that represent more than $1 billion in combined construction value and will house 13,600 permanent full-time workers.
A panel of independent judges painstakingly reviewed the projects and selected the winners based on architectural merit, jobs created and community involvement. Project nominations were made by a variety of people, including mayors, a state senator, local economic development officials and a chamber of commerce president.
