Sioux Falls hotel company leads transformation of historic Michigan hotel
Aug. 9, 2022
This paid piece is sponsored by The Ramkota Companies.
Even a hotel that dates back to 1873 isn’t guaranteed tomorrow.
Park Place Hotel & Conference Center has learned that twice in its long history – once, when a fire did so much damage it had to be rebuilt in 1930 and again in the late 1980s when its financials had become strained enough it needed a buyer.
“The hotel was not doing so well. It was failing,” said Amy Parker, who has served as general manager for 22 years at the hotel in the heart of Traverse City, Michigan.
At the time, it was owned by the local Rotary Club, “which recognized its significance to downtown and reached out to several companies as potential buyers,” Parker continued.
One of those was Sioux Falls-based Ramkota Companies.
“They interviewed multiple companies before allowing them to make an offer to purchase, and they were very impressed with Ramkota and allowed them to proceed with the purchase of the Park Place Hotel,” Parker said.
Fast-forward several decades and Park Place is a thriving mix of historic lodging blended with modern visitor amenities. Registered as a historic site with the state of Michigan, the hotel impresses visitors with its unique craftsmanship.
“Visitors especially enjoy the interior design and woodwork in the hotel,” Parker said. “Many of them come because they enjoy experiencing historic properties.”
In a historic wing of the hotel, there are 80 rooms that “are generally smaller because they are historic, but they are very comfortable,” Parker said. “And it has a lot of character.”
Sixty rooms are available in an annex that was built in 1964, offering classic decor and modern amenities.
All guest rooms offer free high-speed wireless internet, flat-screen TVs, mini refrigerators, desks and microwaves.
In addition, three suites feature their own signature designs, with enhancements that include a sleigh bed, separate sitting room and balcony access.
The hotel also includes an indoor pool, fitness center, business center and dry cleaning/laundry services.
One of the best amenities, though, is the community of Traverse City itself. The metro area of 153,000 is “a little big town right between two peninsulas,” Parker said.
“The hotel is in the heart of downtown Traverse City. You can walk to a beach. You can walk to various restaurants or shopping, leave your car and have a very nice evening.”
It’s a “foodie town” with tons of unique places to eat, including food trucks, and “wineries galore,” she continued.
“We have perfect growing conditions for wine grapes, so we have wonderful wineries. The area is known for Riesling but also creates some beautiful reds.”
Little known fact: Traverse City sits on the 45th parallel of the globe – a latitude shared with Italy’s Piedmont region and Bordeaux in France – so she’s serious about the grapes. And, thanks to Grand Traverse Bay, the land enjoys extended daylight and insulation from some of nature’s inconsistencies, making for luscious ripening conditions.
It adds up to a community dubbed one of Travel Channel’s Top 10 Cities for Wine Snobs, known too for its variety of tasting rooms, which range from traditional European to minimalist modern.
Prefer craft beer? The area includes 19 microbreweries, brewpubs and craft beer taprooms, which also landed Traverse City on the Travel Channel’s list of Top Seven Beer Destinations in North America. Visitor tip: This year, Beer Week is Nov. 11-18. Track your tour in a beer passport, and enter to win prizes.
Plus, the community is filled with unique things to do, from its Traverse City Horse Shows, which are a step toward Olympic competition, to its Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, where visitors are invited to scale mountains of sand at one of America’s most profoundly beautiful landscapes. Discover freshwater beaches, forested wilderness islands and miles of hiking trails.
The cuisine here won’t disappoint, either. For two years in a row, Midwest Living has listed Traverse City among its Five Top Food Towns, and Bon Appetit has listed it as one of America’s Top Five Foodie Towns. You’ll find everything from Asian to Greek and Italian to Mexican.
Dining within the Park Place Hotel also is exceptional, with an on-site Minervas restaurant open for breakfast and lunch and the ninth floor Beacon Lounge with outstanding views of downtown.
“You can see the entire city, and the lounge is open seven days a week,” Parker said.
In 2019, Park Place added an extensive conference center, offering 12,000 square feet of meeting space, which is becoming popular for community use, business events and weddings.
Fittingly, the area Rotary Club now meets there too.
“We’re starting to get really good usage there,” Parker said. “We were one of the latest industries to reopen in our area — food and beverage and conference space — so we’re beginning to see the rebound, and we’re drawing interest from more groups. We also do a lot of destination weddings.”
The hotel’s busy season also is extending, she said. While it’s a little quiet toward the end of the year, holiday parties keep things busy well into the new year.
Looking back, the relationship with Ramkota and its affiliate Regency Hotel Management has brought nothing but benefits.
“I’ve always had a very good relationship with both ownership and management, and that relationship has blossomed over the years,” Parker said. “You stay committed to what you feel is important. That’s kept me here, and I cherish the relationship.”
