Dearborn Convention Hotel

[Rodster-500]

Apparently time and the economy have taken their toll on the hotel.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2018/12/14/edward-hotel-closed-dearborn-fairlane/2310682002/

Once a jewel in the city of Dearborn, the former Hyatt Regency, renamed in 2016 the Edward Hotel & Convention Center, was shuttered Friday because of several fire code violations and maintenance issues.     

City officials told the hotel's operators Wednesday that the property is "unfit for human occupancy."

The closure followed a Dec. 4 annual inspection by the fire department and inspections by building officials, city spokeswoman Mary Laundroche said. Inspectors found plumbing leaks, broken elevators, damaged ceiling tiles and other problems.

"Although the city had been working with the operators of the hotel since May 2016 as they progressed toward a certificate of occupancy and compliance with property maintenance codes, the most recent violations are so serious that the city needed to close the building to protect guests, employees and the public," Laundroche said in an email.

Hotel owner Xiao Hua (Edward) Gong, of 600 Town Center Realty, LLC, could not be reached for comment Friday. An attorney who worked for him in 2016, James Cambridge of Kerr Russell in Detroit, also could not be reached.

The Free Press reported in 2016 that Gong bought the crescent-shaped, 773-room hotel for $20 million in January of that year.   

The previous owner, Israel-based Royal Realities, acquired the hotel out of receivership in 2011 after another previous owner, Dallas-based Ashford Hospitality Trust, chose to default on the property's mortgage during the recession. The past owners were unwilling or unable to make tens of millions of dollars in renovations to the aging hotel, so Chicago-based Hyatt pulled its brand name off the property in 2012.

After Gong took ownership, the hotel transitioned to an in-house management team. It also underwent some renovations and exterior improvements.

It was unclear Friday whether staff would face layoffs.

"I really haven't heard too much," said a switchboard operator, adding that she and other employees were informed Friday morning that the hotel would close at noon.

WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) reported that most employees will be laid off, citing another unnamed switchboard operator.

Visitors and groups who have booked stays at the hotel should reach out to the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, which will try to help relocate them, media relations manager Deanna Majchrzak said.

While the hotel did not have a valid certificate of occupancy, it was allowed to operate because it was working toward one, Laundroche said.

"It's pretty standard that if a business is making progress toward addressing all building codes, we allow them to operate without a full (certificate of occupancy)," as long as inspectors don't find serious violations that could threaten people's lives, she said.

In the recent inspections, the city found 18 violations that need to be corrected.

"We would love if they would work with us and bring us a plan about how they're going to address the life safety issues, and overall how they are going to bring their building up to code," Laundroche said.

Located at 600 Town Center Drive, the hotel is adjacent to Ford headquarters. According to its website, it was built in 1976 and has 64,000 square feet of public space.

Recent TripAdvisor reviews of the property have been mixed. One user called the hotel "empty and close to deserted," and "a shell of its former glory." Another wrote it was "unclean and beat up." Still, it received an overall rating of 3.5 stars.

[Coralsnake]

I stayed there both during the original SAAC convention and as recently as this past summer.

My early recollection was it was one of the nicest places I have stayed. At that time we had a suite.

This past summer, the experience was quite different, there were large sheets of wall paper coming off in the hallways, possibly from previous maintenance. The tub did not drain properly. So all that makes sense.

I have stayed in a lot of crappy accomodations and it certainly didnt rival Illopango, El Salvador, but it did need considerable work.

Its a dirty business.

[roddster]

  So, this kind-of knocks it out of the running for SAAC 45, eh?

[Coralsnake]

I also heard some first hand accounts of the neighboring mall, it seems the entire area is in decline

[shlby66]

    Yes, we had, great times, in Dearborn, for SAAC 5, 8 and 11, at this hotel.  However, by the
    time we returned for SAAC 15, the place was starting, to look well worn. AND, the elevated
    tram, that would transport you, over to the Mall, was no longer in service. An indication, that
    things, were not going well.

    Doug

     

[Side-Oilers]

Sad to read, but is just another sign of the times.

I stayed there for SAAC Conventions #5 and #8 and #11,  and on many other occasions, too.   

Before the Hyatt was built, however, The Dearborn Inn was the go-to hotel for Ford execs, suppliers and the press.  Maybe a few "Mahogany Row" escorts too.  The D.I. was/is literally across the street from the Dearborn Proving Grounds. 

The Hyatt is closer to The Glass House.  (And a part of the giant property backs up to Henry's Fairlane estate.)

But the D.I. always had a cool old school Dearborn vibe.

[Bigfoot]

Let's just do a convention at WGI again where attendance is good, hotels/motels abound, and the track is a draw, and the track facilities are big enough to also provide for concours.

Or Pocono where the water slide amenities (at Kalahari) were a "family" draw.

Without a really good host hotel and really good attendance where are we....?

[Ldouble619]

Let's just do a convention at WGI again where attendance is good, hotels/motels abound, and the track is a draw, and the track facilities are big enough to also provide for concours.

Or Pocono where the water slide amenities (at Kalahari) were a "family" draw.

Without a really good host hotel and really good attendance where are we....?

Or somewhere new.....  Like Sebring!!!

[Coralsnake]

I hear the forum has thousands of members in Florida!

[kjspeed]

I hear the forum has thousands of members in Florida!

The promotional boost a Florida convention would get from FL SAAC TONY is reason enough to have it down here! And who doesn't want to come to sunny FLA in July??

[shelbydoug]

I hear the forum has thousands of members in Florida!

The promotional boost a Florida convention would get from FL SAAC TONY is reason enough to have it down here! And who doesn't want to come to sunny FLA in July??

A nice spring day in February might work?

[griffin289trips]

Oh well, Dearborn. I fondly remember the elevator races in their lobby.  And the out of control speeders on the interstate behind the hotel. And Dearborn police getting upset over bottle rockets exploding all over that interstate. Also the late night high speed run to Dearborn on the PA and Ohio turnpike. Getting there was half the fun and quick. All the conventions I attended were priceless.

[Bigfoot]

Let's just do a convention at WGI again where attendance is good, hotels/motels abound, and the track is a draw, and the track facilities are big enough to also provide for concours.

Or Pocono where the water slide amenities (at Kalahari) were a "family" draw.

Without a really good host hotel and really good attendance where are we....?

Or somewhere new.....  Like Sebring!!!

Why not!

[Don Johnston]

[/quote]


And who doesn't want to come to sunny FLA in July??
[/quote]

Those out in the sunny Pacific or sunny left coast?  But then maybe it is Floridays turn though a long drive for many.

[427heaven]

The question needs to be asked how many miles are people willing to travel to these venues? It appears the old folks don't want to travel much more then 100-250 miles. That cuts out many from participating.