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Two hotels opened in Mahoning County this week
By Kalea Hall
CANFIELD
The goal of Canfield’s newest hotel is to attract more area development.
Canfield’s Courtyard by Marriott opened this week with 110 rooms, ultramodern fixtures and inviting design.
“We are excited about it,” said Chuck Whitman, hotel owner. “It’s another addition to the Westford community with many more to come.”
The hotel, at 4173 Westford Place, is surrounded by the Kennsington Golf Club, which serves as a view for guests.
The Westford Lifestyle Community is a 400-plus-acre plan developed by CTW Development, Whitman’s company. It includes the golf course, the hotel, housing, office centers and soon, a banquet center to seat 900.
There also will be more retail offerings at Westford.
“Youngstown didn’t have” a lifestyle community, Whitman said. “It helps attract businesses who are used to this.”
It took just under 10 months to construct the new hotel, which Scott Yaeger, president of Radius Hospitality, says is unheard of.
Radius worked with Whitman from the beginning, helped him find the brand and work to develop it into what it is today. This hotel is the Canton-based Radius’ 11th hotel that it manages. Four others are opening soon.
The Courtyard by Marriott in Canfield is a little on the edgy side.
“It is friendly to the next generation,” Yaeger said.
Amenities include a bistro restaurant that offers quick service, an indoor pool and fitness center. Patio seating offers more views of the golf course behind the hotel.
“It’s geared to the millennial traveler,” Yaeger said.
Colorful carpet and modern furniture enhance the media room that connects to the lobby area. Half of the rooms overlook the golf course. The pool area and fitness center also have a golf-course view.
Three of the hotel rooms are considered suites with two-room offerings.
About 30 employees were hired for full- and part-time positions at the hotel.
“Businesses are excited to have another hotel in this area,” Yaeger said.
In addition to the Canfield hotel, a Holiday Inn Express opened in Salem on Friday with 72 rooms by The Forza Group, which operates hotels primarily in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The hotel is on Cunningham Road.
“For the Salem area, it is a large leap forward. We have been without a hotel for awhile,” said Mike Mancuso, executive director of the Sustainable Opportunity Development Center in Salem. “There is so much that goes on here that requires people to stay local.”