Camden, NJ – November 30, 2020 – The highly-anticipated, 180-room Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront at 1 Penn St. will become the first hotel in Camden, N.J., in more than 50 years when it welcomes guests on December 4, 2020. The Camden Waterfront property marks the 900th Hilton Garden Inn to open since its founding in 1996.
Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront is developed by Ensemble Real Estate Investments, and operated by Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company. The hotel is designed by Nelson Worldwide and built by INTECH Construction.
When the hotel opens its doors, it will meet the growing demand in the Camden market as the South Jersey city continues to rapidly grow as a hub of business and tourism activity. The hotel includes meetings and event spaces, indoor and outdoor dining, and other amenities.
“This is a momentous occasion that Camden residents, business owners, and visitors have waited for patiently,” said Camden Mayor Frank Moran. “Camden’s revitalization is tangible and Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront will be one of the leading catalysts for our city’s economic resurgence. The hotel is a significant part of the $1 billion mixed-use project involving NFI, Conner Strong & Buckelew, and The Michaels Organization which has already resulted in new opportunities and high-paying jobs for Camden residents. I am proud to welcome Hilton Garden Inn to Camden as the hotel will be a tremendous addition to our beautiful Waterfront.”
Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront, anticipated to generate over $1 million in state and local tax revenues annually, will service the demand of Camden’s existing six million square feet of commercial office and manufacturing space.
As the latest addition to the development of the Camden waterfront, the hotel is working closely with Cooper’s Ferry Partnership to form strong ties within the community by hiring local residents through initiatives like Camden Works, which placed over 220 Camden residents with jobs amidst the pandemic. A number of staff have also worked with Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company for many years, showing the dedication Concord has to fostering strong relationships with employees. Ensemble Real Estate Investments has made a $90,000 contribution to the City of Camden for the administration of Camden Works.
“Being a steward of the community has been very important to us throughout the development of this one-of-a-kind property,” said Kam Babaoff, Ensemble’s Chairman. “Through brilliant architecture and creative placemaking, we are able to meet a need in the community of Camden that has not been met in over 50 years. We are proud of the relationships that have formed from this project and will continue fostering relationships with Camden residents, businesses, and attractions.”
The hotel is conveniently located near prominent business headquarters, including Subaru, American Water Works, and Campbell Soup Company; recreational venues like BB&T Arena and Adventure Aquarium; and institutes of higher education and healthcare systems like Rowan University, Rutgers University—Camden, and Cooper University Health Care System.
Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront features an elevated, high-end appearance that complements the brand’s hallmark bright and airy décor. From the guest rooms to the hotel restaurant, visitors can enjoy views of the scenic Philadelphia skyline, Delaware River, and Ben Franklin Bridge, which makes the hotel easily accessible to Philadelphia and I-95 access points—just a few miles away.
As Hilton Garden Inn responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, some services and amenities have been adjusted in order to adhere to health and safety guidance from local government. To emphasize the brand’s commitment to the health and safety of guests, the property is participating in the Hilton CleanStay Program. With the new program program, all surfaces in each guest room are sanitized with hospital-grade disinfectant and inspected by trained personnel who place a Hilton-approved room seal sticker to ensure guests of cleanliness.
During construction, the property upgraded to cutting-edge health and safety features and installed a specialized air filtration system in every room to sanitize and enhance air quality. In addition, the Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront follows Concord Hospitality’s PureStay by Concord guidelines, that focus on cleanliness and protocols in guest rooms, public, and back-of-house spaces, as well as education and training for all associates.
“Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront will be one of the first hotels in the U.S. to have an upgraded filtration system throughout, known as Bipolar Air Ionization,” said Bill Kao, General Manager. “The advanced system cleans the air of VOC compounds, kills bacteria and viruses, and neutralizes allergens. Our guest’s health and safety are top priority, and we are proud of the system and protocols we have in place that will give guests confidence in their travel choices.”
To facilitate low-contact meetings and events, the hotel features over 4,100-square-foot of multiuse space, equipped with projection screens, 65-inch smart TVs, and built-in audio-visual equipment. An executive board room, as well as meeting rooms that each seat 12 guests, create space for businesses to gather safely. A large ballroom and meeting space that can traditionally fit 240 people max (post-COVID) are on-site to meet the increasing demand from Camden’s growing business community. With Hilton’s EventReady program, all meeting spaces follow stringent cleaning procedures prior to usage.
In addition to corporate events, Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront is the perfect wedding oasis set alongside the Delaware River. The meeting and board rooms can be adapted into the ideal designated space for wedding parties to get ready, enjoy cocktail hour, and a beautiful reception, followed by overnight accommodations. The property’s dedicated event team, paired with the hotel’s upgraded finishes and sparkling scenery, make the perfect venue for weddings and special events of any kind.
Of the hotel’s 180 guest rooms, 20 rooms are custom-built suites that include a kitchenette for visitors checking in for a longer stay. Each guest room boasts Hilton Garden Inn’s signature bedding, a spacious work desk with ergonomic desk chair, and an in-room “hospitality center” equipped with a mini fridge, microwave oven, and Keurig® coffee maker.
Guests can enjoy indoor and outdoor dining at the property’s onsite restaurant, The Water Street Grill, enhanced with firepits, cozy seating, unique menus, and gorgeous views of the water and skyline. In the lobby, The Shop offers a 24-hour grab-and-go retail space featuring an upscale mix of healthy, fresh foods and a specialty coffee bar. Other amenities and services include complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property, a 24-hour business center with Print Spots™ remote printing, and a 1,300-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness center.
Press is invited to the official opening day of the Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront on December 4 at 11:30 a.m. for a photo opportunity of Bill Kao, General Manager, welcoming Camden City Mayor Francisco “Frank” Moran to the hotel for the first time. Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront anticipates hosting a grand opening celebration for the public in the spring.
For more information or to make reservations, please visit Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront or call +1-856-756-0070.
