The abrupt closure of the DoubleTree Hotel in Monroeville comes on the heels of word that the Monroeville Convention Center is marked for closing in a matter of months. The convention center has been a source for many of the hotel guests at the DoubleTree.The hotel is closing effective Wednesday. Word came to some hotel employees Monday that they were suddenly losing their jobs. The employees are not unionized.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with at least two people whose upcoming plans at the DoubleTree have been upended by Tuesday’s news.”It’s a lot right now,” said Malak Shuman, who is planning a wedding reception for her brother and her sister-in-law, who were recently married.Shuman said no one from the hotel has contacted her about the closure. She is not sure when or how she will get back her $800 deposit.”I found out through a friend through Facebook,” Shuman said. “It definitely could have been handled better.”A.J. Denne is also in a state of limbo. She and her fiancé, who are getting married in Aruba, are having a wedding reception at the DoubleTree in November for family and friends.”Beyond the money, I was excited to have all my friends and family come to Pittsburgh,” Denne said.Denne also said she has not heard from DoubleTree management. Only a few members of the hotel management team were on site Tuesday and most of the hotel rooms are already empty. Two guests told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 they were notified by voicemail Tuesday afternoon they had to be gone by the next morning’s final checkout.”Just informing you, some unsettling news. I had you checking out on Friday but I will have to have you check out tomorrow. Because tomorrow, Wednesday, February 28th, will be the last operable day that this hotel is open, due to unforeseen circumstances,” a hotel representative said in the voicemail. “Just letting you know as soon as I could, just to make sure that you can find elsewhere to stay for your next two nights. But all hotel guests will need to vacate the property tomorrow.”The DoubleTree Hotel towers up next door to the Monroeville Convention Center, which Oxford Development intends to close in a couple of months and then lease out to Hobby Lobby.A New York limited liability corporation that owns the Doubletree Hotel bought it from Oxford Development three years ago. One of its lead investors whom a hotel employee identified as the owner did not respond to emails and phone calls requesting comment.”I am heartbroken about today’s news and more determined than ever to save the Monroeville Convention Center,” Monroeville Mayor Nick Gresock told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.”Real families depend on tourism activity the MCC brings to our community, and we will continue to fight for our community, workers, and businesses,” Gresock said. “We are talking with all parties and considering all options to save the Monroeville Convention Center. We urge Oxford Development and Hobby Lobby to work with us on this critically important matter.”The mayor’s understanding is that an investment group may tour the vacated hotel building later this week. “It’s very unfortunate for us,” said departing hotel guest Amari Walker. “We were actually (to be) here until Friday. We were here since Sunday. So we found out today. It was very short notice. me and my best friend here, we were actually at work and they gave him a voice mail which we didn’t hear until maybe ten minutes after they called.”
The abrupt closure of the DoubleTree Hotel in Monroeville comes on the heels of word that the Monroeville Convention Center is marked for closing in a matter of months. The convention center has been a source for many of the hotel guests at the DoubleTree.
The hotel is closing effective Wednesday. Word came to some hotel employees Monday that they were suddenly losing their jobs. The employees are not unionized.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 spoke with at least two people whose upcoming plans at the DoubleTree have been upended by Tuesday’s news.
“It’s a lot right now,” said Malak Shuman, who is planning a wedding reception for her brother and her sister-in-law, who were recently married.
Shuman said no one from the hotel has contacted her about the closure. She is not sure when or how she will get back her $800 deposit.
“I found out through a friend through Facebook,” Shuman said. “It definitely could have been handled better.”
A.J. Denne is also in a state of limbo. She and her fiancé, who are getting married in Aruba, are having a wedding reception at the DoubleTree in November for family and friends.
“Beyond the money, I was excited to have all my friends and family come to Pittsburgh,” Denne said.
Denne also said she has not heard from DoubleTree management.
Only a few members of the hotel management team were on site Tuesday and most of the hotel rooms are already empty. Two guests told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 they were notified by voicemail Tuesday afternoon they had to be gone by the next morning’s final checkout.
“Just informing you, some unsettling news. I had you checking out on Friday but I will have to have you check out tomorrow. Because tomorrow, Wednesday, February 28th, will be the last operable day that this hotel is open, due to unforeseen circumstances,” a hotel representative said in the voicemail. “Just letting you know as soon as I could, just to make sure that you can find elsewhere to stay for your next two nights. But all hotel guests will need to vacate the property tomorrow.”
The DoubleTree Hotel towers up next door to the Monroeville Convention Center, which Oxford Development intends to close in a couple of months and then lease out to Hobby Lobby.
A New York limited liability corporation that owns the Doubletree Hotel bought it from Oxford Development three years ago. One of its lead investors whom a hotel employee identified as the owner did not respond to emails and phone calls requesting comment.
“I am heartbroken about today’s news and more determined than ever to save the Monroeville Convention Center,” Monroeville Mayor Nick Gresock told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.
“Real families depend on tourism activity the MCC brings to our community, and we will continue to fight for our community, workers, and businesses,” Gresock said. “We are talking with all parties and considering all options to save the Monroeville Convention Center. We urge Oxford Development and Hobby Lobby to work with us on this critically important matter.”
The mayor’s understanding is that an investment group may tour the vacated hotel building later this week.
“It’s very unfortunate for us,” said departing hotel guest Amari Walker. “We were actually (to be) here until Friday. We were here since Sunday. So we found out today. It was very short notice. me and my best friend here, we were actually at work and they gave him a voice mail which we didn’t hear until maybe ten minutes after they called.”
