Hotel Bethlehem’s new, extended-stay Suites at 462 features apartment-style suites directly across Main Street from the hotel. It was unveiled at a news conference Thursday, April 4, 2024, in Bethlehem. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Hotel Bethlehem wants to encourage some of its guests to stay awhile. How about a week?
To attract that part of the hospitality market, the downtown Bethlehem hotel unveiled its extended stay suites Thursday, along with a new spa/salon. They are directly across Main Street from the hotel, above the Hotel B Ice Cream Parlor and Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop.
The Suites at 462 features nine renovated, one-bedroom, apartment-style suites ranging from 525 to 750 square feet. Rates begin at $1,750 per week with a one-week minimum stay required.
Also opening in the same building is Steel Magnolia Spa and Salon, which relocated from the South Side.
Hotel Managing Partner Bruce Haines said that while businesses may rent out the suites for people in town for a conference or for those relocating to the Lehigh Valley, he says they are perfect for tourists needing a base while taking in historic sites in the region, such as New York or Philadelphia, as well as downtown Bethlehem.
It was a process that began in 2017 as the hotel started expanding its footprint to other locations along Main Street. That included moving the ice cream parlor across to 462 Main St. while expanding the women’s boutique. For business clients, the conference center opened in 2018 at 531 Main St.
“By increasing our presence on Main Street, that means our guests are going to find Main Street better,” Haines said. “You’re going to shop in the other shops, and they’re going to go to the other restaurants. And they’re going to experience the history, which is along a top 10 Main Street by USA Today as well.”
Haines said the idea of also marketing the suites to tourists came after the COVID pandemic put a damper on business travel.
“We started to see that there is another demand and that’s people coming to Bethlehem and staying for more than two days, two nights and using Bethlehem as a hub to go to other World Heritage sites.”
Bree Nidds, chief operating officer of Discover Lehigh Valley, said about 20% of accommodations in the Valley are extended stay and they play an important role in serving a diverse visitor economy.
“The amenities and availability of extended-stay suites in a destination like Lehigh Valley are crucial offerings to visitors,” Nidds said. “Given that our region frequently hosts business travelers involved in long-term projects, the amenities provided ensure these visitors have a comfortable and convenient home away from home.
“Additionally, as relocation to Lehigh Valley continues to grow, extended-stay options serve as temporary housing solutions for individuals and families during transitions,” she said.
Indeed, guests who were staying several nights at the Hotel Bethlehem were requesting amenities such as personal kitchens that were not available.
“We’ve had guests live in the hotel for months,” explained Kelly Ronalds, director of room sales and guest experience. “Often they’re corporate executives who stay five days a week but don’t want to move their belongings in and out, therefore they book for months at a time.”
She said the extended-stay suites would also save long-term guests money, as single-night room rates begin between $250 and $400.
Hotel Bethlehem’s new, extended-stay Suites at 462 features apartment-style suites directly across Main Street from the hotel. It was unveiled at a news conference Thursday, April 4, 2024, in Bethlehem. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Steel Magnolia Spa and Salon offers personalized beauty and spa services. It is on the second floor of the Hotel Bethlehem’s new Suites at 462, across Main Street from the main hotel. The salon moved to the new location from the South Side. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Steel Magnolia Spa and Salon offers personalized beauty and spa services. It is on the second floor of the Hotel Bethlehem’s new Suites at 462, across Main Street from the main hotel. The salon moved to the new location from the South Side. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Steel Magnolia Spa and Salon offers personalized beauty and spa services. It is on the second floor of the Hotel Bethlehem’s new Suites at 462, across Main Street from the main hotel. The salon moved to the new location from the South Side. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
Hotel Bethlehem’s new, extended-stay Suites at 462 features apartment-style suites directly across Main Street from the hotel. It was unveiled at a news conference Thursday, April 4, 2024, in Bethlehem. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
Hotel Bethlehem’s new Main Street Suite offers a view of Main street, with a king-sized bedroom and eat-in kitchen/living room combination. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Steel Magnolia Spa and Salon offers personalized beauty and spa services. It is on the second floor of the Hotel Bethlehem’s new Suites at 462, across Main Street from the main hotel. The salon moved to the new location from the South Side. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
Hotel Bethlehem’s new Main Street Suite offers a view of Main street, with a king-sized bedroom and eat-in kitchen/living room combination. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Steel Magnolia Spa and Salon offers personalized beauty and spa services. It is on the second floor of the Hotel Bethlehem’s new Suites at 462, across Main Street from the main hotel. The salon moved to the new location from the South Side. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
Hotel Bethlehem’s new Main Street Suite offers a view of Main street, with a king-sized bedroom and eat-in kitchen/living room combination. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Hideaway Suite in one of the Hotel Bethlehem’s new extended-stay suites includes a view of the main hotel across Main Street. One of four styles of rooms available for extended stay, it will cost about $350 per night with a weeklong minimum stay.(Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
Hotel Bethlehem’s new Main Street Suite offers a view of Main street, with a king-sized bedroom and eat-in kitchen/living room combination. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
Hotel Bethlehem’s new Serenity Suite offers an oversized king bedroom and a kitchen/living room/dining room combination. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
Hotel Bethlehem’s new Serenity Suite offers an oversized king bedroom and a kitchen/living room/dining room combination. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
Hotel Bethlehem’s new Serenity Suite offers an oversized king bedroom and a kitchen/living room/dining room combination. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Queen Suite is one of the extended-stay suites the Hotel Bethlehem is opening across Main Street from the hotel. The smallest of the four styles of rooms available for extended stay, it will cost about $250 per night with a weeklong minimum stay.(Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Hideaway Suite in one of the Hotel Bethlehem’s new extended-stay suites includes a view of the main hotel across Main Street. One of four styles of rooms available for extended stay, it will cost about $350 per night with a weeklong minimum stay.(Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Hideaway Suite in one of the Hotel Bethlehem’s new extended-stay suites includes a view of the main hotel across Main Street. One of four styles of rooms available for extended stay, it will cost about $350 per night with a weeklong minimum stay.(Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Queen Suite is one of the extended-stay suites the Hotel Bethlehem is opening across Main Street from the hotel. The smallest of the four styles of rooms available for extended stay, it will cost about $250 per night with a weeklong minimum stay.(Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Queen Suite is one of the extended-stay suites the Hotel Bethlehem is opening across Main Street from the hotel. The smallest of the four styles of rooms available for extended stay, it will cost about $250 per night with a weeklong minimum stay.(Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
Caroline Gillish, owner of the Steel Magnolia Spa and Salon, speaks Thursday, April 4, 2024, at a news conference unveiling the Hotel Bethlehem’s new extended-stay suites partnership with her on-site spa at the Suites at 462 in Bethlehem. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The Hideaway Suite in one of the Hotel Bethlehem’s new extended-stay suites includes a view of the main hotel across Main Street. One of four styles of rooms available for extended stay, it will cost about $350 per night with a weeklong minimum stay.(Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
Hotel Bethlehem Managing Partner Bruce Haines speaks Thursday, April 4, 2024, at a news conference unveiling the hotel’s new extended-stay suites and on-site spa in Bethlehem. (Sharon Merkel/Special to The Morning Call)
The suites celebrate Bethlehem’s history with an industrial-era theme that includes artwork of the steel mills and other sites around the city. There are four types: Queen (525 square feet), Hideaway (750 square feet), Serenity (750 square feet) and Main Street (650 square feet).
They have either king- or queen-sized bedrooms and a queen sleeper sofa in the living room. Both the living and bedrooms feature 65-inch televisions and a large desk. The kitchens include full-sized appliances and are stocked with kitchenware.
The Steel Magnolia Spa and Salon is on the second floor of the building and offers an experienced staff of licensed professionals offering beauty and spa services.
“Main Street is my favorite place to be in downtown Bethlehem,” spa owner Carolyn Gillish said. “It’s amazing to be here and be part of this team. When we chose to relocate, I reached out to my friend, a Realtor, and decided to go for a more boutique spa setting. So she reached out to Bruce and we had a meeting and it worked out. It turned out to be just such a perfect fit. There is no better place we want to be than on Main Street where all the festivals and everything is happening.”
Gillish said the spa is open to the public, and not just hotel guests
Steel Magnolia offers services for nails, hair, facials, massage, wraps, makeup, waxing and spray tanning. There are packages tailored for individuals, couples or small parties, such as bridal parties or business guests.
Morning Call reporter Evan Jones can be reached at ejones@mcall.com.
