Caggiano family opens Home2 Suites by Hilton in Lewes
Just a week after the Caggiano family announced its plans to move Nicola Pizza to their property just south of Five Points in Lewes, they were on site Aug. 28 cutting the ribbon on their brand-new hotel, Home2 Suites by Hilton.
The 110-unit, all-suite, pet-friendly hotel welcomed its first guests at 3 p.m. that afternoon.
Home2 Suites is one of several hotels being constructed in the area, but Director of Sales and Marketing Cheree Barber says what sets this lodging apart is its all-suite offering. Other hotels in the Cape Region market offer what are considered standard hotel rooms, she said.
“They’re not as big as ours, and they don’t have a refrigerator [and kitchen] for a long-term stay,” she said, noting each unit also has a small living area with a pull-out sofa. “At our property, each one of our units is a suite that is built for large families and adults who are intending to stay for long periods.”
Home2 Suites offers extended stay rates. The longer someone stays, the lower the rate, she said.
The hotel features 44 single queen suites, 12 one-bedroom king suites and 54 double queen suites.
Amenities include an indoor pool, fitness center, outdoor oasis, business center, laundry facility and outdoor grilling area. The computers in the business center now feature web cams, Barber said, which is a direct result of more people working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Free Wi-Fi and complimentary breakfast are also included amenities.
Barber helped open the Tru by Hilton in Georgetown before starting with the Caggianos in December. She said building, opening and advertising a new hotel during a worldwide pandemic was challenging, but they made it to the finish line, and the hospitality industry is in a better position now than it was this spring and early summer.
Barber said the Caggiano family stayed strong throughout construction. She said Nick Caggiano Sr., in particular, was very compassionate and kindhearted through the tough times.
“When COVID hit, most owners were scared and cutting costs, which I totally understand, and he could have easily had me laid off or furloughed, but instead he kept me on,” she said. “My family and I will be forever grateful. I knew once this hotel opened that I would be loyal and give him 1,000 percent.”
