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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 F E B R UA R Y 4 , 2 0 1 9 F O C U S S O U T H E R N M A I N E Not always this way Development activity in southern Maine took off over the past decade, says Steve Hewins, president and CEO of Hospitality Maine. "It hasn't always been this way," says Hewins. "For Portland specifi- cally, there were a number of years with nothing new built." In Greater Portland, a year-round market with one of the most expensive hotel markets in peak season, trade is increasingly busy, even through the winter, he says. Strong demand is due to fac- tors like year-round business traffic, tourism and Portland's burgeoning attractions as a restaurant and brewery destination. "Portland has become the new Cape Cod. People are coming here even dur- ing the winter," Hewins says. Not all visitors are driving, though. e Portland International Jetport reported a record of 2 million total passengers for 2018, compared to a post- recession low of 1,671,826 in 2012. "For a city the size of Portland, that's off the charts," Hewins says. "If we didn't have an airport of this caliber that would limit us beyond the drive market." Younger people comprise a grow- ing segment. "e millennial crowd comes to Portland with a checklist of places to go for food and drink," says Hewins. "Food-and-beverage tourism is very real throughout Maine." e older crowd, he says, is extend- ing seasonality in search of experi- ences beyond leaf-peeping. "We feel the market will continue to be strong," Hewins says. Development pipeline Aiming to capture the strong market, a number of hotels are winding through the development pipeline. "Highest Customer Satisfaction with Retail Banking in New England, 3 out of 4 Years in a Row." Having our efforts recognized by our customers makes us incredibly proud and inspires us to do even more. Bangor Savings Bank received the highest score in New England in the J.D. Power 2015, 2016 and 2018 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Studies of customers' satisfaction with their own retail bank. Visit jdpower.com. Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender 1.877.226.4671 | www.bangor.com C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » N E W H O T E L N E W H O T E L N E W H O T E L G O O G L E M A P S R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y O F M A R R I O T T Norwich Partners also developed the AC Hotel, a Marriott International brand, at 158 Fore St. on Portland's eastern water- front. That hotel opened in July 2018. The 178-room hotel is a 'lifestyle boutique' brand aiming to capture the millennial market. It also targets businesses with 2,700 square feet of meet- ing space, and meeting rooms and parlors. A Hampton Inn, at 1210 Brighton Ave. in Portland, has 86 rooms and is expected to open this year. The developer is Portland Hotels Inc. Another Marriott International brand, Aloft Hotel, will be part of the redevelopment of the former Rufus Deering Lumber Co. site, at 383 Commercial St. in Portland. Norwich Partners is the developer. The hotel will have 155 guestrooms, restaurants, meeting space, fitness center, 22 on-site parking spaces and valet parking. R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y O F A R C H E T Y P E A R C H I T E C T S

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