OCEAN CITY, Md. - Businesses in Ocean City are growing and the resort town is celebrating the grand opening of Cambria Hotels' new Bayfront Hotel. It is a new addition that could boost tourism in the area.
After nearly five years of planning, The Ocean City Cambria Bayfront Hotel is here.
Right in time for the summer season.
"We've been seeing really high occupancies in the hotel with almost every weekend being full, and we know that that's a trend that's going to continue throughout the Summer," said Janis Cannon, senior vice president of Upscale Brands Choice Hotels.
It is an addition to the beach town that local leaders say will help with economic recovery from the pandemic.
"It's going to bring more guests to our town, more activity to our town, more events to our town, and it's just going to increase tourism and the revenue that comes with tourism," said Ryan James, a member of Ocean City Chamber of Commerce's board of directors.
Unique features of the Bayfront Cambria Hotel include a boardwalk that connects to downtown and a bayfront view from the hotel suite.
And working to support local businesses with five local craft beers on the tap.
Other hotels in the area are also making big moves for the town's tourism.
Earlier this month, Monte Carlo Hotel Group announced full renovations and upgrades at the Hotel Monte Carlo for the 2021 season.
Local leaders say they are excited to see the city continue to grow.
"We used to call it the off-season, and the summer tourist season but now we even changed the name and we call it the shoulder season... it never...tourism never stops here at ocean city," added James.
Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan says the Bayfront Boardwalk is a start of an even bigger project.
"The boardwalk today is part of a vision for downtown Ocean City...we're hoping someday we connect all the way around," said Meehan.
A $1,000 donation was made to the Ocean City Chapter of Surfrider Foundation as part of the brand's appreciation to the local community. The organization is made of surfers, non-surfers, and beach lovers who volunteer to keep beaches clean.