Inn at Penn set for September opening

Part of Sansom Common, the six-story Inn at Penn will open officially on September 1. The 238-room Inn at Penn and Ivy Grille, part of the Sansom Common shopping complex, are gearing up for their September 1 opening, and University and hotel officials say they could not be more excited. "I'm absolutely, unequivocally thrilled," Vice President for Campus Services Larry Moneta said. "The hotel has emerged exactly as designed and intended." The six-story hotel, located at 3600 Sansom Street, offers 238 guest rooms as well as 26 deluxe, hospitality and conference suites. The guest rooms are located on the third through sixth floors, while the first two floors are home to the Ivy Grille restaurant and bar as well as to the Faculty Club, two ballrooms and other conference and meeting rooms. Access to the hotel can be gained from both Chestnut Street and 36th Street. Ever since University President Judith Rodin announced plans to build Sansom Common -- complete with retail stores, restaurants and the upscale Inn at Penn -- in November 1996, University officials have said the hotel would become a major asset for Penn faculty members, visiting parents and visitors to Philadelphia in general. "We think parents and visitors and trustees and alumni and just guests in general will find it to be a very wonderful addition to the area," Moneta said. While the hotel is not set to open officially until September 1, a "soft opening" on August 16 will give the hotel a chance to get up and running and work out any kinks in the service before a grand opening in the fall. "In the soft opening period there are no conferences, no conventions booked, no very large events," Moneta said, explaining that the hotel is "only taking accommodations of folks who just sort of walk in." On August 16, the sixth floor of the hotel will be opened for guests, with each of the other three floors opening about every 10 days, according to Inn at Penn General Manager Dave Newhart. "What we're being very cautious of is opening up a product and rushing it prior to our service being able to match the product," Newhart said. A small fitness center and a bookstore operated by Barnes & Nobles -- as well as conveniences such as valet parking, 24-hour room service and an iron, ironing board, hair dryer, coffee maker and terrycloth robes in every guest room -- are amenities that officials hope will make for a comfortable environment. But aside from making the Inn simply cozy, the hotel's planners say they want to create a high-tech facility as well. To that end, each room is equipped with a 25-inch television, two phone lines, an Ethernet connection and "Web TV." A typical room rate will range from $165 to $250 a night, depending on the room's size and the season, Moneta said. Inn officials said they are already gearing up for the return of Penn students and their families during move-in weekend in early September and expect to book about 150 rooms for the weekend. The hotel space will also likely be useful during next summer's Republican National Convention, expected to bring thousands of people and millions of dollars to the city next summer. According to hotel officials, the Inn at Penn has already booked about half of its rooms for the event. Over the next few weeks, Inn at Penn officials will be preparing for the hotel's opening by training employees, receiving and installing furniture and equipment, and putting the final touches on the hotel's motif. The Ivy Grille, located on the ground floor of the hotel on the Walnut Street side, will open on September 1 and will feature an eclectic menu, a display kitchen where customers can watch their food be prepared and seasonal outdoor seating. "It'll be a fun atmosphere," Newhart said. Newhart said the restaurant will serve both standard menu items such as burgers and pastas, as well as more creative foods like paninis and fritatas. Most entrees will not exceed the $20 mark, he said. "We're trying to make it so that the students feel comfortable bringing their parents here and the parents feel comfortable and get what they want," Newhart said. The hotel will staff about 160 employees, Newhart said, adding that many of the already-hired employees are from the West Philadelphia area. The Inn will be operated by DoubleTree Hotel Corp. under the supervision of Promus Hotel Corporation, which either operates or is currently developing 12 other collegiate facilities along the East Coast. The relocation of the Faculty Club from its former spot in Skinner Hall to the Inn at Penn has long been a source of contention between University officials and Faculty Club employees. In March, the Inn agreed to hire 70 percent of all full-time Faculty Club union workers employees formerly employed by Penn. Newhart said Tuesday that 13 of the Faculty Club workers who were offered jobs accepted and have already started work in the hotel.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.