Along with the sea of freshmen and transfer students, another new addition can be found this school year on Durham's Main Street: The Hotel New Hampshire.
The owner of the limited service, short-term-stay hotel is UNH alumnus and former tri-sport coach at the University, Paul Berton. The establishment is named after the 1981 novel "The Hotel New Hampshire," by famous author and UNH alumnus John Irving. Berton was granted permission by Irving to use the name, and the bear logo on the hotel's sign alludes to the recurring image of bears in the novel.
Construction of the hotel took place for many months at 2 Main Street before opening on Aug. 8 of this past summer. Berton is also the owner and landlord of the student housing complex known as "Nick's Bricks," in addition to several offices and rental spaces in Portsmouth, where he resides with his wife/co-owner and family.
As for the not-so new faces at school this year, many returning students were surprised to see what was erected in place of what used to be a gas station and, more recently, a parking lot. While neatly landscaped and uniquely color-schemed, some are curious as to how it fits in with the existing surroundings, and furthermore, what place it has being nestled between a student housing complex and several gas stations.
"It just looks so out of place in the middle of the intersection, with Nick's Bricks and Smitty's tow station," senior Anna Windler said. "The building itself is nice but I don't know who would want to stay there. It seems random."
But people do want to stay there, and have given owner Paul Berton a few sold- out weekends. Several more are already booked for the future, including the upcoming University Homecoming Weekend in October. Berton said the capacity has surpassed the original analysis, leaving him and his staff pleased with the results thus far.
Berton understands the dynamics of this college town like the back of his hand. Being a former UNH student, then a coach for the ski, tennis and baseball teams, and a landlord and owner of several units around town, Berton had an original image in his mind for the land that does not match what exists today. Initially, Berton wanted to construct more storefront space, extending the downtown commercial section, and placing more off-campus student housing above the stores. But when Berton began this process, UNH was quickly becoming notorious for its rowdy downtown riots, shedding a cloudy light upon the off-campus community. With minimal support from surrounding businesses and landlords, supplying even more off-campus housing was not a popular enough option for Berton. Thus, with the tip of a friend and fellow UNH alum, Berton embarked on his first venture in the hospitality industry.
The Hotel New Hampshire doesn't seem to be stepping on any toes, either. In fact, many in the community are benefiting from the opening, and at the very least, not caring either way that it's there.
Where one would think competition would brew, partnership is being formed. The New England Center (NEC) has long been "the" hotel to stay at when visiting UNH or the Durham area. With the opening of the Hotel New Hampshire, which offers somewhat similar rates based on supply and demand of a fluctuating market, the New England Center hasn't been hurt a bit. David May, executive director of hospitality services at the University and acting general manager at the NEC, said the competition is lacking because the two hotels draw different cliental. David confirmed that most profits drawn in by the New England Center's hotel are through corporate meetings.
"The New England Center is known best for its conference facilities. We've got big companies, such as Liberty Mutual, UPS and Ratheon, coming in here to use our conference center for their business planning," May explained. "The employees taking part in those conferences usually stay anywhere from three to five days. This is where most of the money comes from for the hotel in the New England Center."
When the NEC fills its capacity, May said, they have begun referring hopeful guests down Main Street to the Hotel New Hampshire. May says the two hotels are working together, especially during busy times, such as Homecoming weekend and Parent's weekend, and have only experienced a win-win situation thus far.
The cliental of the Hotel New Hampshire differs from that of the New England Center through its short-term, transient-stay setup. Berton said he draws business from the University community, such as parents, sports teams and their families, alumni and visitors. There is also a large percentage of guests from outside of the University community. Berton said he has been drawing much business from the Portsmouth Traffic Circle, where he can find his biggest competition in other short-term, limited service hotels such as the Hampton Inn. Berton said he has also, much to his surprise, drawn in people who have come to visit Newmarket to see shows at the Stone Church.
The 68-room facility includes two luxury suites, a couple of small meeting rooms and a larger sunroom adjacent to the lobby. A light continental breakfast is offered in the mornings along with complimentary wine and beer in the evenings. There is no restaurant or bar.
This is exactly why many businesses in the community are welcoming the new hotel with open arms. Having many personal ties to the area and working very closely with the Durham commercial district, Berton has set up his newest business venture in a way that will benefit this historic town of Durham to which he so fondly feels attached.
"When you stay at the New England Center," Berton said, "you leave your money at the New England Center. When you stay here at the Hotel New Hampshire, I send you right over the hill into downtown Durham, and you leave your money there." Berton said he predicts his hotel will have a two million dollar influx on Durham businesses this year alone.
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