Tourism Guru To Run New Hotel
By PATRICK L. FANELLI
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2/20/2007 - MAYVILLE — Brent Gallupo, development director for the Mayville-based H.K. McConnon Companies, hopes a hotel being constructed on the outskirts of Mayville will boost the already booming tourism industry at the northern end of Chautauqua Lake.
With that in mind, the company’s selection for a general manager is an appropriate one. Craig Colburn, Chautauqua County Visitor’s Bureau board president, will run the Chautauqua Suites Meeting and Exposition Center that is expected to open this summer.
‘‘We’re excited to bring him on board,’’ Gallupo said. ‘‘He has a lot of connections, and he understands tourism.’’
Aside from his leadership position at the Visitor’s Bureau, Colburn has plenty of experience in the tourism industry. He started at the Mariott Hotel in Hartfield, Conn., and rose up through the ranks, eventually managing the front office. He transferred to another Mariott in Cleveland, Ohio, and later returned to his native Bemus Point, opening the former Farmington Inn outside Dewittville.
Colburn believes tourism demographics are changing, and it is up to the destination communities to acclimate with the growing and evolving industry.
‘‘We see this demographic changing,’’ Colburn said. ‘‘We definitely see money coming to the county that we didn’t see before.’’
The hotel project was spearheaded by Henry McConnon, who also owns the Food Is Good restaurant chain and the Chautauqua Design Center, and at one point was interested in purchasing the Chautauqua Belle. The hotel is being constructed on West Lake Road, at the former site of the Ames Department Store and later Belknap Business Forms on Route 394 in Mayville.
‘‘The nice thing is we’ll have a 15,000-square-foot exhibition area,’’ McConnon said. ‘‘We don’t have anything like that (in the area).’’
According to Gallupo, the company’s goal is to bring large events, large banquets, exhibitions and trade shows to the area, as well as additional accommodations for visitors.
‘‘I think if you look at all of Chautauqua County, there are not many venues that seat 800 or 900 people for dinner,’’ Gallupo said. ‘‘And I think there’s still a shortage of rooms countywide.’’
Colburn believes the Mayville area has the potential to draw in conventions — which could each bring hundreds of visitors to the region and boost the local economy. He believes the area only lacks the floor space.
‘‘I would love to be a hotel that draws conventions that fills everyone up in town,’’ Colburn said. ‘‘If we can actually draw some conventions we can’t (currently) house, that would be the best thing. We’ve got access to highways and we’re in a situation where we have all the resources we need — parking, a view, outstanding local government ... it’s a pretty good situation.’’
Olive’s Restaurant, part of the Food Is Good restaurant chain, will also be moved to the hotel once it’s completed, according to Gallupo. Initial plans to include a water park element were scrubbed, at least temporarily — though Gallupo indicated that it could be included in the second phase of the project.
The Chautauqua Suites Meeting and Exposition Center was designed by Inscale PC Architects and is being built by Odyssey Builders Inc. Progress has been swift since the property was purchased in August.
‘‘It’s going pretty well,’’ Gallupo said. ‘‘The real cold weather has kind of slowed things but we’re still on track for the end of June completion.’’
With that in mind, the company’s selection for a general manager is an appropriate one. Craig Colburn, Chautauqua County Visitor’s Bureau board president, will run the Chautauqua Suites Meeting and Exposition Center that is expected to open this summer.
‘‘We’re excited to bring him on board,’’ Gallupo said. ‘‘He has a lot of connections, and he understands tourism.’’
Aside from his leadership position at the Visitor’s Bureau, Colburn has plenty of experience in the tourism industry. He started at the Mariott Hotel in Hartfield, Conn., and rose up through the ranks, eventually managing the front office. He transferred to another Mariott in Cleveland, Ohio, and later returned to his native Bemus Point, opening the former Farmington Inn outside Dewittville.
Colburn believes tourism demographics are changing, and it is up to the destination communities to acclimate with the growing and evolving industry.
‘‘We see this demographic changing,’’ Colburn said. ‘‘We definitely see money coming to the county that we didn’t see before.’’
The hotel project was spearheaded by Henry McConnon, who also owns the Food Is Good restaurant chain and the Chautauqua Design Center, and at one point was interested in purchasing the Chautauqua Belle. The hotel is being constructed on West Lake Road, at the former site of the Ames Department Store and later Belknap Business Forms on Route 394 in Mayville.
‘‘The nice thing is we’ll have a 15,000-square-foot exhibition area,’’ McConnon said. ‘‘We don’t have anything like that (in the area).’’
According to Gallupo, the company’s goal is to bring large events, large banquets, exhibitions and trade shows to the area, as well as additional accommodations for visitors.
‘‘I think if you look at all of Chautauqua County, there are not many venues that seat 800 or 900 people for dinner,’’ Gallupo said. ‘‘And I think there’s still a shortage of rooms countywide.’’
Colburn believes the Mayville area has the potential to draw in conventions — which could each bring hundreds of visitors to the region and boost the local economy. He believes the area only lacks the floor space.
‘‘I would love to be a hotel that draws conventions that fills everyone up in town,’’ Colburn said. ‘‘If we can actually draw some conventions we can’t (currently) house, that would be the best thing. We’ve got access to highways and we’re in a situation where we have all the resources we need — parking, a view, outstanding local government ... it’s a pretty good situation.’’
Olive’s Restaurant, part of the Food Is Good restaurant chain, will also be moved to the hotel once it’s completed, according to Gallupo. Initial plans to include a water park element were scrubbed, at least temporarily — though Gallupo indicated that it could be included in the second phase of the project.
The Chautauqua Suites Meeting and Exposition Center was designed by Inscale PC Architects and is being built by Odyssey Builders Inc. Progress has been swift since the property was purchased in August.
‘‘It’s going pretty well,’’ Gallupo said. ‘‘The real cold weather has kind of slowed things but we’re still on track for the end of June completion.’’
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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