Okoboji Hotel plans June opening
"Urban metro but with a small town feel" is the goal for entrepreneurs Misty Katzfey and Kristi Leigh.
The business partners are converting the former East Oaks Mall on Highway 71 in Okoboji into the Okoboji Commons Hotel. The duo like the quaintness of the Napa Valley in California and think that atmosphere will play well in Okoboji.
"The location was perfect, the buildings were there and the acreage involved all attracted us," Katzfey said. "We are developing a hotel specializing in a comfortable Okoboji style atmosphere with high end hospitality. We feel we are creating our own niche."
"We will have it all enclosed by the end of January," Leigh said. "The plumbing and framing are coming along amazingly well."
A second story is currently being added to the north building.
"We are so pleased with the progress so far, thanks to our general contractor Shane Neavin of Transition Homes," Katzfey said.
The Okoboji Commons Hotel will have 77 guest rooms, a restaurant, meeting room, courtyard, retail area and beach front on East Lake Okoboji.
"We have a wooded area on the lake so we plan to hang hammocks, perhaps add a fire pit and chairs so our guests can enjoy the beach," Leigh said. "We are bringing comfort to a new level by having king-sized beds in all of the rooms and putting lofty bunks for children in some of the rooms to enhance the family experience. A gorgeous honeymoon suite is also a part of our hotel."
The Lighthouse Restaurant, already on the grounds, has been preserved and continues to be operational. The stone cottage will remain as a retail spot along the south side of the property. The stone cottage has a special place in Katzfey's heart from her childhood years. Further expansion of the retail area is part of the overall project.
Plans call for the construction of a pool.
"If it doesn't happen this year, it will for sure be ready for next year," Katzfey said.
A warm, inviting meeting space has been designed to hold 125 to 150 people. Katzfey envisions the room used for reunions, wedding receptions and corporate gatherings.
Leigh and Katzfey purchased The Abe's of Okoboji motel on Sanborn Avenue in Okoboji a few years ago. They redesigned the rooms, improved the amenities and opened it as the Vintage Block Inn. Both are considered experts in their fields of expertise. Katzfey has extensive hotel experience in sales, catering and management with Regency Inns Management. Leigh is the owner/designer of Johnathan Blake Interiors in Okoboji. Vintage Block, under Katzfey's general management, has soared to the number one spot for Okoboji on TripAdvisor.
"We always encourage our guests to go to TripAdvisor and comment one way or the other about their stay at Vintage and we will continue to ask our guests at Okoboji Commons to do the same thing," Katzfey said.
Caring about the guest experience is a key to success, according to Leigh.
"We encourage our staff to send our visitors to all the area attractions during their stay with us," she said. "Our job is to get every hotel filled, not just ours. We send our overflow to others and they do the same for us. We all have to work together in the Lakes Region."
In order to provide the high rate of efficient hospitality the two owners desire, they envision a staff of 40 employees, once they are up and running at full capacity.
"We will be open by June," said Katzfey. "It may not be totally completed but we will be open."
They are taking reservations now for the new Okoboji Commons Hotel at (712) 332-2222 and on the website at www.okobojicommonshotel.com.
Reproted by: DickinsonCountyNews.com
The business partners are converting the former East Oaks Mall on Highway 71 in Okoboji into the Okoboji Commons Hotel. The duo like the quaintness of the Napa Valley in California and think that atmosphere will play well in Okoboji.
"The location was perfect, the buildings were there and the acreage involved all attracted us," Katzfey said. "We are developing a hotel specializing in a comfortable Okoboji style atmosphere with high end hospitality. We feel we are creating our own niche."
"We will have it all enclosed by the end of January," Leigh said. "The plumbing and framing are coming along amazingly well."
A second story is currently being added to the north building.
"We are so pleased with the progress so far, thanks to our general contractor Shane Neavin of Transition Homes," Katzfey said.
The Okoboji Commons Hotel will have 77 guest rooms, a restaurant, meeting room, courtyard, retail area and beach front on East Lake Okoboji.
"We have a wooded area on the lake so we plan to hang hammocks, perhaps add a fire pit and chairs so our guests can enjoy the beach," Leigh said. "We are bringing comfort to a new level by having king-sized beds in all of the rooms and putting lofty bunks for children in some of the rooms to enhance the family experience. A gorgeous honeymoon suite is also a part of our hotel."
The Lighthouse Restaurant, already on the grounds, has been preserved and continues to be operational. The stone cottage will remain as a retail spot along the south side of the property. The stone cottage has a special place in Katzfey's heart from her childhood years. Further expansion of the retail area is part of the overall project.
Plans call for the construction of a pool.
"If it doesn't happen this year, it will for sure be ready for next year," Katzfey said.
A warm, inviting meeting space has been designed to hold 125 to 150 people. Katzfey envisions the room used for reunions, wedding receptions and corporate gatherings.
Leigh and Katzfey purchased The Abe's of Okoboji motel on Sanborn Avenue in Okoboji a few years ago. They redesigned the rooms, improved the amenities and opened it as the Vintage Block Inn. Both are considered experts in their fields of expertise. Katzfey has extensive hotel experience in sales, catering and management with Regency Inns Management. Leigh is the owner/designer of Johnathan Blake Interiors in Okoboji. Vintage Block, under Katzfey's general management, has soared to the number one spot for Okoboji on TripAdvisor.
"We always encourage our guests to go to TripAdvisor and comment one way or the other about their stay at Vintage and we will continue to ask our guests at Okoboji Commons to do the same thing," Katzfey said.
Caring about the guest experience is a key to success, according to Leigh.
"We encourage our staff to send our visitors to all the area attractions during their stay with us," she said. "Our job is to get every hotel filled, not just ours. We send our overflow to others and they do the same for us. We all have to work together in the Lakes Region."
In order to provide the high rate of efficient hospitality the two owners desire, they envision a staff of 40 employees, once they are up and running at full capacity.
"We will be open by June," said Katzfey. "It may not be totally completed but we will be open."
They are taking reservations now for the new Okoboji Commons Hotel at (712) 332-2222 and on the website at www.okobojicommonshotel.com.
Reproted by: DickinsonCountyNews.com
