Hyatt Place hotel opens in Eagle Village

BY COLLEEN HUBER

The Hyatt Place hotel in Fredericksburg, located in Eagle Village, opened on Tuesday Jan. 21. Built by the University of Mary Washington Foundation, the Hyatt Place is the first boutique hotel of its kind, according to Jim Fournier, general manager of the hotel.

The hotel will serve the university, downtown Fredericksburg and the Mary Washington Health System, according to Fournier.

“Hyatt Place Fredericksburg at Mary Washington is located in a very desirable and historic area, and we’re looking forward to creating a positive travel experience for each and every guest that walks through our doors,” Fournier said.

The five story hotel contains 93 rooms, including 89 studios, three executive suites and one presidential suite. The Hyatt Place also has an indoor, heated salt-water pool, a fitness center, a meeting space, a courtyard with fire pit bars and fountains and 24-hour food and beverage service in the gallery lobby, according to University Relations.

Jeff Rountree, chief executive officer of the UMW Foundation, said that the hotel will provide new jobs and additional meeting spaces, as well as first-class lodging.

The hotel, while owned by the UMW foundation, will be managed by Interstate Hotel and Resorts.

The Hyatt Place is open just in time for UMW families to book rooms for the upcoming spring graduation.

“I think it is great for families because it is so close to campus and will make it easy for them to get to graduation early and not have to worry about parking the day of,” said business major Caroline Filippone.

“It seems like a very convenient place for families to stay during graduation,” said historic preservation major, Rebecca Smith.