WB Resorts Development LLC
North Wildwood, NJ
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Media May Contact:
Steven L. Lubetkin of Lubetkin Communications LLC
(856) 751-5491 or steve@lubetkin.net
Andy Weiner, Managing Director, WB Resorts
(856) 795-1143
WB Resorts Development Gratified by North Wildwood Council's Redevelopment Zone Vote for $175 Million Hotel and Indoor Waterpark Resort Complex
Jersey Shore's First Indoor Waterpark Resort Will Create 400 Permanent Year-Round Jobs
NORTH WILDWOOD, NJ - July 17, 2007 - WB Resorts Development praised the North Wildwood Council's creation of a redevelopment zone that will facilitate construction of the Jersey Shore's first hotel and indoor waterpark complex. The $175 million resort facility will add 425 high quality hotel rooms, more than 400 year-round permanent full-time jobs, and significant tax revenues to the city when it opens in 2010. Council approved the redevelopment zone for WB Resorts' project at a meeting here today.
WB Resorts, a partnership headed by long-time local boardwalk property owner-manager Andrew Weiner and real estate developer Brian Baratz, will develop the former Seaport Pier site into a 90,000 square-foot indoor, pirate-themed waterpark facility. A 425-room family oriented hotel facility will be developed across the boardwalk, and the two properties will be connected by an enclosed skyway. The hotel will include public restaurants, an amusement arcade, a spa and fitness facility, and parking space for more than 600 cars.
"Our family has been active in real estate development and management in the Wildwoods since just after the First World War, which gives us unparalleled expertise and insight into the family shore resort market," said Andrew Weiner, managing director of WB Resorts, who also operates the Splash Zone Waterpark in Wildwood. "We are extremely gratified by the Council's decision and pleased to be working with North Wildwood to bring this exciting, year-round resort destination complex to the Jersey Shore. This development will truly extend North Wildwood's tourism season from a few short summer months, making the city into a highly desirable family resort destination for the entire year."
Indoor waterpark-hotels offer families a high-quality vacation at an affordable price. Since 1994, the industry has grown to an estimated 140 resorts with 24,000 rooms and 3.5 million sq. ft. of indoor entertainment space as of 2006.
The North Wildwood waterpark will include numerous water slides and body flumes, interconnected at all levels with interactive water squirters, a wave pool, and other water-themed exhibits. In addition, the park will feature lounge areas, a snack bar, a "lazy river," and an area for smaller children and their parents. The indoor waterpark will be connected to the hotel facility via an enclosed aerial walkway.
The park will be packed with the same safety-conscious features and services that have made Splash Zone one of the safest waterparks, including shallow pools and well-designed sight lines, said Weiner. Waterpark lifeguards will receive extensive lifesaving and rescue training, he said. The indoor waterpark will be operational every day of the year, providing a valuable all-weather entertainment alternative to the Boardwalk.
The project's high-quality hotel rooms will be at least 450 sq. ft. - significantly larger than other local accommodations, and higher than the industry average room size, to comfortably accommodate families. The rooms will feature upscale amenities including comfortable bedding, luxury toiletries, high-quality bathroom fixtures and fittings, and easy internet access. Many of the rooms will have unparalleled views of the beach and of the Wildwoods. Hotel guests will receive complimentary admission to the waterpark. Public waterpark admission is expected to be available depending on hotel occupancy. The hotel will employ a number of environmentally sustainable construction techniques for energy efficiency and recycling.
North Wildwood's proximity to major population centers provides a large base of potential customers, and an indoor waterpark-hotel will encourage families to choose North Wildwood as a year-round vacation destination. In contrast to highly seasonal outdoor waterparks and amusement parks, an indoor waterpark will provide a consistent and comfortable environment throughout the year where guests can enjoy the resort's various amenities and activities.
WB Resorts expects to break ground on the project by the end of 2008. Construction is projected to take approximately 16 months, with a grand opening in the spring of 2010.
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Editors, Broadcast News Directors, Note: The following content assets are available to you in preparing stories about this project:
Images and Illustrations: High resolution color PDF images of some of the artist's renderings of the proposed hotel/waterpark development
High-resolution color JPEG photos of the principals of WB Resorts Development
Documents: Electronic (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF) versions of:
This news release
A fact sheet on the project
Biographies of the principals of WB Resorts Development.
Audio suitable for broadcast, podcast, website posting, or other use: High-quality MP3 audio actualities of Andy Weiner commenting on the Council decision and discussing the hotel project
These content assets are available by email, on CD, or through our online newsroom at http://www.lubetkin.net/Clients/WBR.
For more information, contact Steve Lubetkin of Lubetkin Communications, office (856) 751-5491 or cell phone (856) 625-5502, or email steve@lubetkin.net.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
WB Resorts Development Gratified by North Wildwood Council's Redevelopment Zone Vote for $175 Million Hotel and Indoor Waterpark Resort Complex; Jersey Shore's First Indoor Waterpark Resort Will Create 400 Permanent Year-Round Jobs
