September 26, 2012

City’s newest hotel holds grand opening

By Kate Ruggles
Farmer Staff Writer

The Watford Hotel celebrated its official Grand Opening in Watford City on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2012.
The hotel began taking reservations on June 1, and according to Nancy Cook, the hotel’s regional manager, they maintain a full reservation schedule, often booking out weeks in advance.
“We fill up on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and our booking window is two to three weeks in advance,” states Cook. “However, we do try to keep reservations open for tourism.”
Being available for tourists has been one of the Watford Hospitality Group LLC’s primary goals in building the hotel.
“People come and visit the park or their family members and they don’t have a place to stay,” Cook states. “We are happy that we could open a hotel and have it open to tourism and industry.”
The Watford Hospitality Group LLC broke ground for The Watford Hotel on Sept. 7, 2011. And a mild winter allowed them to keep a record construction pace.
“We were able to keep a good construction schedule because of the mild winter weather. We opened nine months after breaking ground,” states Cook.
Roger Winkelman, of the Watford Hospitality Group LLC, stated in an earlier McKenzie County Farmer article, “We like what’s going on in Watford City. The community has a real hometown feeling to it and we’re excited to be a part of it.”
According to Cook, the hotel’s management group continues to be appreciative of the Watford City community.
“A lot of the public wouldn’t normally get the chance to come in and see the hotel. So we just want to give them that opportunity,” states Cook. “Everyone in the community has been so wonderful and welcoming to us and we want to be able to do the same for them.”
 According to Mike Vannett, also of the Watford Hospitality Group LLC, there were over 200 people at the hotel’s Grand Opening on Saturday.
Guests were given the opportunity to tour the hotel and take advantage of the many amenities, as well as take part in drawings and giveaways. People were also invited to “stop by all weekend for drink and pizza specials in our pub!”
Those who got a chance to see the Watford, saw a beautiful lobby with high ceilings, wood trim and granite countertops. Off to the side of the lobby, there was a sitting area around a stone-encased fireplace. The hotel also has a main floor breakfast area and conference room, down the hotel’s west hall.
The Watford Hotel offers 77 guest rooms and amenities such as free 24-hour coffee and tea, a full liquor bar that also serves pizza, HD Direct TV, a free hot breakfast, free high speed wireless internet, handicap accessibility, whirlpool suites, a guest convenience store and brand new luxurious rooms.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER