August 1, 2023 (Providence, RI) – TPG Hotels & Resorts, one of the nation’s premier hospitality management firms, announced today it has been selected to manage The Blennerhassett Hotel, located in Parkersburg, West Virginia. The iconic 140-year-old, 84-room historic property features an upscale signature restaurant, lounge, spa, and over 8,000 square feet of meeting space in eight distinct spaces that can be tailored for high-end corporate and lifestyle events. The property was purchased in 2019 by R&W Hotels, which is owned and operated by local Parkersburg businessmen Wayne Waldeck and Lee Eric Rector.
“The Blennerhassett Hotel is an exceptional historic asset with built-in demand drivers in a city filled with history,” said Ben Perelmuter, President of TPG Hotels & Resorts. “We see tremendous revenue growth opportunities for this asset as we deploy our sophisticated management systems and marketing strategies to the hotel’s already rich history. The addition of this property to our third-party managed assets is part of our strategy to seek additional growth opportunities throughout the United States.”
Parkersburg is the fourth largest city in West Virginia. It is one of the state’s most historic cities located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers. It was pivotal in the birth of the nation’s oil and gas industry and the creation of the state of West Virginia. Guests will experience the history firsthand at many historical sites, including the Julia-Ann Square Historic District, Blennerhassett Island, and Henderson Hall. Parkersburg is home to the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History, the Henry Cooper House, the Oil and Gas Museum, the Sumnerite African American History Museum, the Artcraft Studio, and the Veterans Museum of Mid-Ohio Valley.
“For a property with this much history, it is extremely important to us to partner with a company that shares our culture, values, and philosophy and understands how to profitably run a truly unique asset,” said Lee Rector, Co-owner, R&W Hotels. “As local Parkersburg business operators, we feel TPG understands the value this hotel brings to the local community and we believe this partnership will enhance the value of our asset and help market Parkersburg to a larger audience as a destination.”
The Blennerhassett Hotel was built and constructed by Colonel William Nelson Chancellor. Construction began in 1893, and after six years, the property officially opened on May 6, 1889. The property has undergone three significant renovations since opening its doors, first in 1944-45 when a new terrazzo floor was added to the lobby area and a marble facade was added to the exterior front. The second major renovation began in 1985 when a new addition including a Grand Ballroom and Promenade were added to the first floor as well as several additional guest rooms. The last renovation with the current owners started in early 2020 when they added faux tin ceilings to the library, main lobby, and the promenade areas. The current-day library was given a facelift, and during the renovation, they found the original Terrazzo floor, which guests can view today.
