Hospitality firm opens second I-43 hotel in Grafton

For travelers along I-43, the new Marriott TownePlace Suites in the Village of Grafton is a welcome sight.

Since opening on July 26, the extended-stay hotel has experienced steady customer traffic and will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, Aug. 23.

“We’ve been really rocking the rooms. With this being an extended-stay hotel, we’ve had quite a few people looking to stay here for a longer period than most transient guests,” General Manager Nicholas Toecker said. “I thought there would be a little ramp-up period but it’s been almost instant. The demand is definitely here for it.”

Located at 1601 Gateway Dr., Grafton, the hotel has 87 rooms ranging in size from one-bedroom to king and double-queen studios. Some of the amenities include a community room, fitness center, pool, outdoor fire pit with two grills and community washers and dryers.

Next door to the hotel is the Hampton Inn & Suites, but Toecker doesn’t see it as competition because both lodges are managed by Kinseth Hospitality Companies.

“Our group of investors who built the Hampton next door nine years ago said, ‘Let’s do it again,’” Toecker said. “With us being right next door, it just made sense to put it here rather than look for something else in Cedarburg or Port Washington. It’s convenient for both.”

Toecker added that the Hampton serves guests who want to stay in the area for one to four nights, whereas the Marriott can serve guests for months on end. At least one guest is planning to stay at the hotel for about a year.

Most of the clients are from the Midwest on extended business trips or are visiting the area to be with patients at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton.

“The hospital is definitely a huge factor,” Toecker said. “It’s a major medical complex with visiting doctors and traveling nurses. I’m on a first-name basis with several people visiting Aurora for various reasons.”

Toecker said staying at the hotel is more convenient than renting an apartment and travelers don’t need to worry about hauling or buying furniture.

“It definitely beats signing a lease, and all the rooms are furnished,” he said.

The rooms come equipped with a full kitchen, work stations and an entertainment package that allows visitors to log onto their online streaming accounts or gaming consoles to watch their favorite programs and movies. 

“We want all of our guests to feel at home,” Toecker said.

The average rate is about $149 per night, but for guests staying longer than four nights the rates can be reduced at a tiered pricing schedule.

“We go outside of the norm to accommodate the people who are on those long-term contract or temp jobs. The longer you stay, the better your rate is going to be,” Toecker said. 

Toecker said the surrounding area needed a long-term place for travelers to stay because the closest Marriott TownePlace Suites is in Glendale. 

“Glendale is a great place to stay if you’re working in Milwaukee and you don’t want to be downtown. But for around Grafton, Cedarburg and Port Washington, there aren’t too many opportunities for an extended stay,” he said. “There’s a lot to do in the area with work and play, and we look to draw people to stay here for community events.”

Toecker said the hotel will also cater to area residents who are looking for a staycation as opposed to traveling out of the area for a brief getaway.

“That’s our bread and butter. A lot of times people just want to be away from their homes for the weekend but don’t necessarily want to travel a great distance to do that,” he said. “We’re currently working on a community package.”

He also said the hotel can be a refuge for local families who have relatives staying over for the holidays if their homes can’t accommodate the extra visitors.

Marriott is planning on building more hotels between Milwaukee and Sheboygan in the next few years. One of the reasons for Marriott to extend its presence is for major golf tournaments, especially the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits Golf Course in Sheboygan.

“That’s going to have a huge effect for us and we’re invested in the golf community,” Toecker said. “We’re a casual place, and what’s more casual than going out and hitting some golf balls?”

Being part of the growing Grafton community is another reason for Marriott to expand in the area, and the hotel line looks to be a supporter in the area. It has already sponsored events such as Port’s Fish Day and Summer Sounds in Cedarburg.

“We really want to make our presence known in the area, and supporting community events is a great way to do that,” Toecker said, adding it is a member of the Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I think our hotel will have a great impact on the community. As we are an extended stay, the people are going to want to go out and do things and be part of the community in Grafton and neighboring areas.”