Ocean House Management & Watch Hill Properties Form Joint Endeavor to Renovate Watch Hill Inn in RI

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. February 13, 2014

WATCH HILL, RI - February 13, 2014 - Ocean House Management, LLC (OHM), operators of the Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Ocean House and Weekapaug Inn in Westerly, Rhode Island, and Watch Hill Properties (WHP) announced the formation of a joint endeavor to renovate and reposition the Watch Hill Inn into a luxury, all-suite boutique property managed by and affiliated with the Ocean House and Relais & Châteaux.

"We are thrilled to join WHP in overseeing the renovation of this historic property into an all-suite villa component to our existing property just up the street," said Daniel A. Hostettler, President and Group Managing Director of Ocean House Management, LLC.

Located just down the road from the Ocean House, at 44 Bay Street, the newly-renovated inn will offer 18 residentially-inspired suites and duplexes, ranging in size from 650 to 4,000 square feet, all just steps away from Watch Hill Harbor. Each unit will be fully equipped with new custom kitchens and private laundry facilities, making them perfect for guests desiring a longer length of stay. The property will be positioned to appeal to a modern, youthful clientele by incorporating a contemporary coastal design esthetic along with a variety of state-of-the-art technology ranging from in-room iPads to wireless music systems and Apple TV.

Additionally, guests of the inn will enjoy the signature high-touch service that the Ocean House has become known for, including private concierge services through the inn's on-site management and guest relations team. Guests will also be able to enjoy the facilities of the Ocean House located just a short walk up the road, as well as the offerings at the Weekapaug Inn via complimentary shuttle.

"While the Ocean House and the Watch Hill Inn will evoke two very different atmospheres, we plan to create appropriate synergies between the two properties to create truly unique and special experiences for guests at each hotel," Hostettler added.

The multi-million dollar renovation and landscape projects will begin this month in order to meet an anticipated opening in summer 2014. Renovations include conversion of several current suites into two-story duplex suites, full refurbishment of all units, creation of a private club lounge, exterior landscape additions and new interior design schemes done in a contemporary coastal style by Donna Simmons for the Ocean House Design Group.

About The Ocean House

The Ocean House, one of New England's last grand hotels, re-opened its doors in June 2010 after a $140 million rebuild and restoration. The 136-year-old property, originally built just after the Civil War, is perched high on the bluffs in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Guests enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean, Montauk and Block Island from the resort's 49 guestrooms and 15 signature suites. Farm-to-table casual and fine dining, the 12,000-square-foot OH! Spa and more than 10,000 square feet of event space make the Ocean House ideal for mid-week business retreats, close-to-home family vacations, weekend luxury escapes and destination weddings. Ocean House is a member of Relais & Châteaux, an exclusive collection of more than 500 of the finest hotels and gourmet restaurants in 60 countries that has set the standard for excellence in hospitality. This stately property is the only AAA Five-Diamond and Forbes Five-Star rated resort in Rhode Island. For more information, please visit www.oceanhouseri.com or call 401-584-7000. About Weekapaug Inn

The Weekapaug Inn, which reopened in October 2012, has been a staple of the Rhode Island coastline since 1899. The Inn is located five miles from its sister property, the Ocean House, in the peaceful community of Weekapaug, with expansive views of Quonochontaug Pond, and the Atlantic just beyond. Inspired by classic Cape Cod style, the property features 27 guest rooms and four Signature Suites, with farm-to- table fine and casual dining and boutique event space. The Weekapaug Inn is a member of Relais & Châteaux, an exclusive collection of more than 500 of the finest hotels and gourmet restaurants in 60 countries that has set the standard for excellence in hospitality. For more information, please visit www.weekapauginn.com or call 888-813-7862.

About the Watch Hill Inn

As the oldest original structure in Watch Hill Village, the Watch Hill Inn was built in 1845 and was known as the Narragansett House. Listed in the National Historical Landmark Register in Washington D.C., the Inn was the first building to be built as an inn from conception and reported to be the oldest of its kind in the country. Along with the Ocean House, the Watch Hill Inn was one of only two Watch Hill original hotels to survive the hurricane of 1938. In 2007, renovations were completed that converted the Inn into a collection of private condominiums. Its current renovations will build on the 2007 restoration, by combining several units into luxury duplexes, ranging from 650 to 4,000 square feet and each with terraces, just steps away from Watch Hill Harbor. The contemporary, sophisticated design will appeal to a younger clientele, as each suite will be equipped with that latest technology. The Inn is slated to open in summer 2014 and upon its completion, it will be affiliated with Relais & Châteaux.