A 54-room luxury hotel and a 130-unit condominium building make up the centerpiece of a long-running, 35-acre redevelopment in Asbury Park by iStar. — Courtesy: iStar
By Joshua Burd
A luxury hotel along the Asbury Park waterfront is set to reopen after being closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The operator of the property, The Asbury, announced this week that the 54-room facility is resuming operations at limited capacity. It will do so through the peak season, as it introduces comprehensive sanitation measures that comply with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
New protocols also include adopting medical-grade disinfectants and establishing a three-step decontamination process for every room, according to a news release. The hotel will also make hand sanitizer available in public areas and reduce touchpoints in guestrooms and common spaces, while all employees will be provided with personal protective equipment.
“The Asbury’s reopening is a bright light during what has been a very difficult time for our community,” said Salt Hotels CEO David Bowd, owner and operator of the hotel. “We’re ready to welcome tourism back in a responsible and safe way, so that visitors and residents can once again enjoy the local restaurants, bars and other businesses that make Asbury Park so special.”
Originally launched in 2016 by iStar, the master developer of a 35-acre stretch of the Asbury Park beachfront, The Asbury was the city’s first new hotel in 50 years. The property also has a rooftop space that is used for summer programming such as yoga and cinema nights, which will open to the public with social distancing decal squares similar to the circles in New York City’s Domino Park.
The hotel is also reopening its rooftop bar with reservations and social distancing guidelines in place, the news release said. Also set to open is a pop-up café and bar in front of the property, The Counter Outdoor Cafe, which will have socially distanced seating while also providing room service to hotel guests.
Room rates start at $265 per night, the news release said. The hotel will revert to full occupancy as soon as it is safe to do so and permitted by local and state guidelines.
Developer unveils 130-unit, waterfront condo building in Asbury Park (SLIDESHOW)