Groundbreaking held for hotel, conference center in Harrisonburg

Construction of the Hotel Madison and The Shenandoah Valley Conference Center officially began Wednesday with the groundbreaking ceremony  in Harrisonburg.

The project is the product of a four-member partnership involving Maryland real estate consulting firm dpM Partners, the James Madison University Foundation, JMU and the city of Harrisonburg.

The partners believe the hotel and conference center will help shape tourism and the economy of Harrisonburg and the Central Shenandoah Valley for years.

“At dpM, we are bullish on Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley as an attractive destination for conferences and tourism,” dpM Principal Paul Gladd, a JMU alumnus, said in a statement. ”You can’t beat the Central Valley for natural beauty and recreation. The cultural opportunities offered by the area’s universities and a thriving downtown are very attractive to visitors. And access to transportation is high. So all the ingredients in a recipe for success are here.”
          
Construction and buildout are expected to take roughly 14 months, with the grand opening planned for March 2018.

The hotel will be located on land owned by JMU. The 230-room hotel will be privately owned and operated by dpM Partners in Maryland. The JMU Foundation will own the conference center.

The hotel is expected to cost about $34 million, and the conference center $10.9 million.