BATTLE CREEK, MI — Guests at a world-class hotel opening in Battle Creek in September will enjoy a 5-star experience while some of the youngest team members receive hands-on training in designing that experience.
The DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Battle Creek is the first teaching hotel in the Southwest Michigan region, says Heather Ignash, economic development specialist at Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU). She says there’s another one in Frankenmuth that has a very special program with a very special partner.
Heather Ignash, economic development specialist at Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU)“There are many different partners and organizations involved in the DoubleTree,” says Ignash, including the Burma Center, VOCES, the Calhoun Area Career Center and Kellogg Community College.
In addition to the hotel’s 247 guest rooms, there is also a classroom for students pursuing a career in the hospitality industry, whether they are high school or college students or adults looking to change careers.
“We really wanted to make sure it was student-led and student-focused so that people could come in and benefit from it,” says Ignash. “We have a human resources specialist who specializes in guiding students and staff through these pathways. This is the result of a lot of targeted work from a lot of different partners.”
These partners are joining forces under the SUITE (Supporting Upward Innovation and Training for Excellence in Hospitality) collaboration, which began in October 2023.
By the end of enrollment for the 2024-25 school year, between 50 and 60 students are expected to be enrolled in DoubleTree’s curriculum, says Tim Staffen, assistant superintendent for career and technical education for the Calhoun Intermediate School District.
However, these numbers depend on the capacity of 6 p.m. hospitalitya Zeeland-based hotel company that will manage the day-to-day operations of the BCU-owned DoubleTree.
A significant number of these students probably come from the Calhoun Region Career Center (CACC) which operates a culinary arts and hospitality program and has a dual enrollment agreement with KCC. CACC is an extension of the high school experience for students coming to the school from their home schools in Calhoun County.
“In addition to earning another degree, these students must also engage in on-the-job learning,” says Staffen. “Through our partnership with KCC, students in my program have the opportunity to participate in an internship or paid or unpaid internship or apprenticeship where they work with industry professionals to learn their craft and gain real-world experience.”
KCC currently offers a Hotel management with executive housekeeper course that includes certification. The school has a long-term goal of offering students the opportunity to earn hospitality-focused associate and bachelor’s degrees from KCC, eliminating the need to transfer to a four-year institution, says Darcy Henning, an instructor in KCC’s Office Information Technology Department and one of the newest members of the SUITE collaboration.
Her role at KCC includes teaching the school’s hospitality courses.
“I think one of the attractions of the hospitality industry is that you can learn about accommodation, management, food, event planning, tourism and go in many different directions that are all related to it,” says Henning.
Offering students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience on DoubleTree’s campus is unique in that it brings together ad hoc business and industry leaders to make it possible, Staffen says.
Participants will meet for an opening event at the new DoubleTree by Hilton in Battle Creek.“What you’re seeing here is what happens when you see the intersection of business and industry, education and economic development companies in the community,” he says. It takes the collaboration between these elements to a higher level. This goes way beyond community service. It’s about building something together for a common goal that ultimately benefits students and the local economy.”
Representatives of the organizations that make up the SUITE Collaborative, led by Ignash, developed the programming together and supported each other in the process, she says.
“Thanks to Tim, he had a hotel with a classroom in it, and when we asked at 6 p.m., they said, ‘Yes, that’s possible.'”
“It creates a channel that gets students interested in the industry and keeps them in it,” says Staffen. “They see the front of a restaurant, learn about other aspects, and then somehow get hooked and want to do more than just cook.”
Speaking to students at Battle Creek Public Schools, Ignash said they are “really excited about the many different opportunities that are open to them in the hospitality industry. It’s one of those jobs that people really, really love because no two days are exactly the same.”
Making the most of a unique property
The DoubleTree property covers 10,000 square meters in the heart of downtown. It has all the amenities you would expect from an upscale hotel, including a swimming pool and fitness center. What sets it apart, says Ignash, are the dedicated green spaces available to the community, guests and event organizers.
“There is an additional 20,000-square-foot atrium area that will house a gallery of work by local artists, including students from the local high school,” she says. “The intention is to rotate these artworks on a regular basis. We want to make sure that it celebrates Battle Creek and the community.”
The hotel will also feature a market featuring products from local entrepreneurs such as Café Rica and JJ’s Sweet Treats, as well as a restaurant called Alloy, which will be owned and operated by 6 PM.
BCU owns the hotel that showcases and highlights the city, says Ignash.
“We focus on what makes the hotel unique and the value it has for the local community,” she says.
The DoubleTree’s premises are the former address of the McCamly Plaza Hotel, whose functionality had proven to be outdated according to information on the BCU website.
“Instead of allowing the property to continue to deteriorate in its vacant state, BCU and several community and state partners came together to create a vibrant community asset. BCU formed a for-profit company called 50 Capital Ave. Development Corp. (50 CADC) and took over the hotel in November 2020 after settling a legal dispute with the previous owners.”
BCU took on the role of developer to renovate and modernize the hotel for the benefit of the community. This was a strategic turning point for BCU as it was their first foray into the role of private developer. Thanks to the collaboration of these community partners, the hotel became a truly unique experience with an elaborate training initiative through the SUITE Collaborative, downtown business promotion, local sustainability efforts and community involvement.
Participants will meet for an opening event at the new DoubleTree by Hilton in Battle Creek.Thirteen organizations have donated over $50 million to make the project possible, including Battle Creek Unlimited, WK Kellogg Foundation, 50 Capital Ave Development Corporation, the City of Battle Creek, the State of Michigan, Calhoun County, The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), The Miller Foundation, Calhoun County Visitor’s Bureau, Battle Creek Downtown Development Authority (BCDDA), Kellogg’s 25-Year Employees’ Fund, Bronson Battle Creek Hospital Community Partners and the Consumer’s Energy Foundation.
“Creating a community asset requires more than just renovating a building – it takes a collaborative effort. We thank our partners and the community for their contributions to this project, which will positively impact Battle Creek for years to come,” said Joe Sobieralski, BCU President and CEO.
“I just want to show people that something like the SUITE Collaborative happens when you come together and really support each other,” says Ignash. “We all believe in the mission and that great things can happen.”
