OPENING DELAYED FOR WESTIN RESORT NEAR SAVANNAH, GA.
By Dave DeWitte, Savannah
Morning News, Ga.
published Aug. 14
SAVANNAH, GA -- Savannah will have to wait a little longer for its long-awaited Westin Savannah Harbor Resort.
The developers of the 403-room hotel, the keystone of a $98 million resort development on Hutchinson Island, officially
set back the opening date from Oct. 23 to early December on Friday, citing construction problems caused by torrential
rains that hit the area June 29.
"Even the best laid plans can go astray," Westin General Manager John Cottrill said with a sigh.
Westin officials said the construction setbacks resulted from water accumulation in the hotel when 11 inches of
rain fell on the area during 12 hours June 29. It was the second delay for the hotel, which was originally set
to open Sept. 1.
Much of the water got into the hotel through a wall that was not completely enclosed to allow construction workers
to enter from the outside until the elevator was installed. The water accumulated in an administrative area on
the first floor.
Although the water required the replacement of some drywall on the first floor of the hotel, hotel officials were
mainly concerned about the need to lower the levels of moisture and humidity in the hotel before more interior
finishing work was complete.
The delay forced the Westin to cancel bookings for "less than a half-dozen groups" that scheduled gatherings
at the new hotel, according to Michael McMahon, director of sales and marketing. All were re-booked into other
Savannah hotels, according to McMahon. He said the hotel also discontinued efforts to bring in several other groups
because of concerns the hotel wouldn't be open.
Few groups were booked into the hotel during its first few months of operations, McMahon said, because the management
wanted time to smooth out any bugs before the hotel is allowed to operate at capacity.
The owners are still awaiting word from their insurance company on reimbursement for the business the hotel will
lose during the delays, but the insurance company has acknowledged claims of less than $250,000 for physical losses,
according to Richard Hood, vice president of real estate operations for CSX Real Property Inc., the managing owner
for the construction project. He said the amount includes water-damaged equipment and materials in addition to
damage to the hotel.
Hood said the project owners have worked with a moisture control firm to dry out the air in the hotel. Daily readings
of moisture and air quality are being taken.
No litigation is expected to arise from the damage, according to Hood. He said the owners and the contractor, Beers
Construction Co., have focused their energies on getting the project back on track, so that the hotel can be open
for the holidays.
"Our goal is to get the building open so our community can take advantage of it during the holiday season,"
Hood said.
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