New Bedford, Massachusetts- Today, Mayor Scott W. Lang and Lafrance Hospitality Co., announced that the proposed downtown waterfront hotel has cleared another major hurdle; Lafrance Hospitality has received approval from the Marriott Corporation to establish a Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites in New Bedford.  The franchise approval allows the developer, Lafrance Hospitality, to progress to the next stage of the multi-million dollar waterfront project.

“Step by step the hotel is moving forward at a very impressive pace.  It will take real teamwork at all levels of the public and private sectors to make this important project a reality for our city.  I am confident that my administration and the City Council will assist the Lafrance, Corp. as they move through the various phases to construction and completion,” said the Mayor.
 
This new step forward comes on the heels of the April 10th, 2008 New Bedford City Council Meeting, during which the council approved a series of street closings and realignments as well as the sale of two small land parcels to Lafrance Hospitality Co., in preparation for the development.

City Council President Jane L. Gonsalves said, “I am very happy to hear that Lafrance has been granted the franchise license and that we will be moving forward with this project to develop a hotel in New Bedford.  I see the presence of a hotel as a key piece of the economic revitalization of this area.”

Richard Lafrance, President of Lafrance Hospitality said, “The Mayor, his economic development team and the City Council have been very enthusiastic and supportive of this project and their support has enabled the project to progress in a timely fashion.”

Preliminary plans indicate the five-story New Bedford Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites will consist of a total of 106 rooms, including 78 standard rooms and 28 suites.