A plan to market Ypsilanti's
Eagle Crest Resort to executives and conference planners around the world are unfolding as more multimillion-dollar, multi-year renovations are made.
The resort, which features a Golf Digest four-star rated golf course, a conference center that as of recently will be managed by Marriott Corp. and a hotel already owned and managed by Marriott, has redone its landscaping, roads, sidewalks and more. The conference center has gotten new furniture and decor and will get upgraded technology, part of a recently approved $1 million expense by Eastern Michigan University, and the golf course has $1 million in upgrades as well.
The property is leased from Ypsilanti Township to
Eastern Michigan University, which owns the golf course and conference center and manages the golf course. The latest round of renovations will cost $200,000 each year for the next five years, says Leigh Greden, executive director government and community relations at EMU. Previously EMU put $2 million into the conference center, which had management operations taken over by Marriott last month.
In addition, Marriott is improving the hotel,
Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest.
It's all part of plan to market Eagle Crest Resort with its closeness to Metro Airport and Ann Arbor, its scenic views of Ford Lake and a highly-rated and improving golf course to the world.
The parties behind the project include EMU, Ypsilanti Township, and Marriott.
"It's always nice to put money into a facility to keep it fresh, but we're really doing it as part of a coordinated multi-pronged marketing strategy to enhance the entire resort," Greden says. "It's a win for the university as we push to have the conference center make money. We think the partnership with Marriott is a win for the community because of the property taxes Marriott pays. We think it's a win for the public because this is public golf course and something Ypsilanti-area residents can enjoy.
"And as for the township, they've been great partners in making this happen. The supervisor, Brenda Stumbo, and her team have been amazing in marketing the township as a great place to do business. We could not doing without them and their commitment to making Ypsilanti Township more friendly to the business community."
Source: Leigh Greden, executive director government and community relations, Eastern Michigan University
Writer: Kim North Shine
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