It’s not set to open until spring or summer of 2027, but The Element Hotel is already contributing to the vitality of Downtown Medford.
They are DMA Custom Partners; they contribute to Holiday Lights and Flower Baskets; they sponsored food at the DMA December Social at Champagne Café; AND they purchased $1000 worth of gift certificates from downtown businesses, with the certificates being given away in a social media lottery.
The lucky winners will spend their $60, $100, and $200 gift certificates – and maybe more – at the downtown businesses, and, hopefully, share with others what great things can be found to buy in Downtown Medford. Steve Reimer of Western Hospitality the developer of The Element said he used the gift certificate purchase and giveaway “to get to know people and put a face on the hotel project and let people know we are part of Downtown Medford.”
The Element Hotel, a Marriott International, Inc. brand, will be a four-story boutique hotel with 134 guest rooms located just north of Pear Blossom Park on 2.77 acres of land at 310 N Bartlett Street, between East Third Street and East Fourth Street. Medford-based Outlier Construction is in charge of construction and is working with mainly local subs.
Amenities and features include an outdoor patio, pool, and spa for guests, along with a large meeting room. The upscale bar will serve high quality food, and a complimentary breakfast will be provided for hotel guests. Many of the rooms will have kitchenettes for extended stay guests. There will be plenty of secure parking and guests can easily walk to Main Street to visit downtown shops and restaurants.
“We expect to draw a large segment of tourism and business travel. People would rather stay in a unique and walkable area,” said Reimer. “With an estimated occupancy of 200 guests per night, the Element would bring 200 people per night to eat, drink, and explore Downtown Medford. Hopefully more customers downtown will give people the courage to open businesses and expand downtown.“
Western Hospitality started in 1999 in Grand Junction, Colorado. Steve and Kevin Reimer (brothers) built a hotel on Main Street in Grand Junction and helped jumpstart the idea that a historic downtown could grow and survive. The company now owns five hotels – and downtown Grand Junction is reportedly vibrant and gorgeous.
Steve Reimer became acquainted with former MURA Director Harry Weiss when they were both living in Colorado, and Harry encouraged Steve to put a hotel in Downtown Medford. Steve and his family now make their home in the Rogue Valley and are immersed in the local hospitality scene. Steve’s son Wesley and wife Corrie own Bar Juillet on the Plaza in Ashland and his daughter Shanna Barber owns McCall House, a historic boutique hotel and bed & breakfast on Oak Street in Ashland. Steve’s wife Mary is also involved in McCall House.
Looking toward the future with DMA, Steve Reimer said, “The EID (proposed Economic Improvement District) is absolutely essential. It is a start. It will give DMA more of a budget to get some things done like creating places on Main Street for people to stop and gather, making Downtown Medford even more vibrant.”