Hilton Garden Inn Celebrates Grand Opening on Stony Brook University Campus
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| Cutting the Ribbon – Wolfie joins Dr. Robert Frey, CEO of Harbor Construction Management and his wife Kathy Frey; Frank Toner, COO of Harbor Construction Management; SUNY Trustee Cary Staller; SBU Sr. VP, Barbara Chernow; and, Hilton Garden Inn General Manager William Gomes. |
STONY BROOK, NY, May 13, 2013 – The newly opened Hilton Garden Inn at Stony Brook University hosted a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting on May 13 at its location across from the Administration Building on the Stony Brook University campus. Festivities included a ribbon-cutting ceremony; brief remarks by Barbara Chernow, Stony Brook University Senior Vice President for Administration; Robert Frey, Stony Brook Research Professor and the Director of the Program in Quantitative Finance in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics and the president and CEO of Harbor Construction Management, the company that developed the property; and, Frank Toner, COO of Harbor Construction Management, who also is a Stony Brook alumnus.
“Robert Frey’s vision, dedication and perseverance accomplished what many others could not,” said Stony Brook President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., who was unable to attend the event. “He needed no explanation as to why a hotel is so important at a public flagship institution. And it did not take him long to identify the right set of partners: A quality franchise in the Hilton Garden Inn; Crescent Hotels as the management company; and, an outstanding head of the hotel construction project, Frank Toner.”
During Dr. Frey’s remarks, he took time out to present Toner with an award to commemorate his efforts in the construction of the hotel. After the ceremony, guests were invited to tour the hotel and sample food from area restaurants and bakeries.
“The concept of a campus hotel has been more than 20 years and three University Presidents in the making, and now that important dream has become reality,” said Sr. Vice President Chernow. “I am thrilled that such an important dream has now become reality under President Stanley’s leadership.”
The 135-room Hilton Garden Inn at Stony Brook is located at the entrance to the Stony Brook University campus, across the street from Stony Brook University Hospital, the Long Island State Veteran’s Home and Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. It is operated and managed by Crescent Hotels and Resorts.
With more than 500 events and activities occurring on campus each year, including the Stony Brook Film Festival, Parents and Family Weekend, Homecoming Weekend/Wolfstock, commencement and convocation ceremonies, conferences, symposiums, dignitary visits and major athletic events, the new hotel provides a very convenient and attractive location for visitors and participants to stay while here.
Families throughout Long Island and others coming from long distances to obtain the outstanding health care services provided by Stony Brook Medicine will find the on-campus hotel a welcome addition. It will also provide the same outstanding range of amenities to visiting professors, prospective students, job applicants, athletic teams, performers and vendors.
“None of this could have happened without Dr. Robert Frey, whose dedication to Stony Brook seems boundless.” said Chernow. “Robert’s vision, dedication and perseverance accomplished what many others could not.”
Hotel amenities include a glass-enclosed Pavilion lobby featuring a comfortable lounge area with a television and fireplace; a 32” LCD HDTV in every room; an in-room “hospitality center” with a mini fridge, microwave oven and coffee maker; a sitting area with an easy chair and ottoman; a hairdryer; and an iron and ironing board. The hotel’s recreational facilities consist of a fitness center with state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength training equipment, as well as a swimming pool and hot tub.
The hotel also includes over 3,800 square feet of flexible space and an on-site guest laundry facility. The ballroom space can host up to 225 people for a seated dinner and up to 300 for a reception.
© Stony Brook University 2012
