By Bob Bong
Development in Bedford Park is in high gear and a new hotel broke ground earlier this month adjacent to the Wintrust Sports Complex on 65th Street, which opened in 2021.
The importance was not lost on Bedford Park Mayor David Brady who, moments after his shovel dug into dirt on October 6, rattled his construction hat by joyfully shaking his head. “I am very proud of our town. It has been a special week.”
The special week included Brady being named Municipal Leader of the Year by the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau at its annual meeting and awards luncheon.
The Wyndham Garden Bedford Park hotel will be the central development for Bedford Park’s future lifestyle center, which will surround the hotel with shops and restaurants.
“The development of the Wyndham Garden hotel is a milestone for the village, as currently we have high occupancy numbers in the existing village hotels,” said Joe Ronovsky, Bedford Park’s Chief Business Officer Marketing and Development.
“We are extremely excited to announce this new Wyndham Garden in Bedford Park” said Tom Busch, Senior Director Development Upscale Lifestyle. “With modern style and beautiful guest rooms, each hotel will meet the needs of today’s guests.”
The Wyndham property will be next to the sports complex, a 116,000 square foot facility that hosts sports, events, and recreation. Thus far in 2023, the Wintrust Sports Complex has hosted over 175,000 visitors.
“Having a hotel on-site of the Wintrust Sports Complex will allow us to offer more accommodations, specific to some groups who want to be ‘on-site’ for their tournament, ” said Ronovsky.
The groundbreaking added to an already stellar week for the village.
On October 4, at the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau luncheon, Brady accepted his award on behalf of the village. The Municipal Leader of the Year Award recognizes the village that best contributes to the tourism and hospitality industry in the Chicago Southland.
“The Village of Bedford Park’s aggressive development is further enhancing a wonderful area of the Chicago Southland with incredible accessibility and accommodations for visitors looking for a safe and friendly place to stay near the Chicago city limits,” said Jim Garrett, President/CEO of the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“Collectively, we believe in building a better future for our kids and our community,” said Ronovsky. “Winning the CSCVB Municipal Leader of the Year Award and advancing ahead of schedule on our development projects shows we are doing just that.”
If you see a new business in town or wonder what happened to an old favorite, drop me a line at bobbong@hotmail.com.