Williams College announces the Olympia Companies as new management for Williams Inn

SOURCE:  Noelle Lemoine, communications assistant, Williams College,; tele: (413) 597-4277; email: Noelle.Lemoine@williams.edu

  

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., December 13, 2016—Williams College announced today the selection of a real estate and hospitality company to help design and then manage a new Williams Inn.

In preparation, the Olympia Companies, based in Portland, Maine, will begin managing the existing Williams Inn beginning July 1.

"Olympia's team is a good fit for this project, with their extensive experience helping to guide the design of, and then managing, inns in college towns," said Fred Puddester, Williams' vice president for finance and administration. "They're also known for making these inns community spaces that welcome townspeople as well as visitors, as the Williams Inn has always done."

Olympia officials said they look forward to welcoming staff members of the current inn as they work together toward a seamless transition. Employees who choose to transition to the new management company will experience no staffing changes through at least the first six months of Olympia's management.

In 2014, the college purchased the inn from longtime local innkeepers Carl and Marilyn Faulkner. At that time, Main Street Hospitality Group was brought in to manage the inn.

"We want to thank Main Street for the incredible job they did managing the transition from the Faulkners and for their professionalism running the inn over the last two years," Puddester said. "This is a challenging property to run, and Main Street did a fabulous job. We are grateful to Sarah Eustis, Greta Kipp, and the entire team at Main Street."

Olympia will contribute its expertise to the planning underway for the building of a new Williams Inn at the base of Spring Street in Williamstown. That design work is being led by the firm Cambridge Seven Associates.

Olympia currently manages The Inn at Swarthmore at Swarthmore College, The Hotel at Oberlin at Oberlin College, the Brunswick Hotel & Tavern at Bowdoin College, and The Alfond Inn at Rollins College in Florida.

"We're honored to be chosen as the manager for the Williams Inn and to contribute to the vision of Williams College and the Williamstown community for a new Williams Inn on Spring Street," said Kevin Mahaney, president & CEO of The Olympia Companies. "It aligns with our approach to the campus hospitality market, which is to work with a college to understand its goals and create seamless connections for campus, community, and visitors."