GRAND FORKS – Events hosted by the Olive Ann Hotel, which opens next month, will include 12 Christmas-themed multi-day events.
The boutique hotel will open on Friday, December 1st, with a grand opening and ribbon cutting scheduled for December 13th. The 79-room hotel is already fully booked for Friday and Saturday nights, general manager Cory Blegen told the Herald. Weddings are scheduled for both consecutive nights.
“It’s just overwhelming excitement,” Blegen said. “It’s a big time, but we’re ready.”
Several new venues will open alongside the hotel at the 14 N. Fourth St. location. That includes Crisp and Green and a new event space known as The Landing with a full bar and catering options.
“The Landing replaces the proposed underground bootlegger that was discussed at the time of the hotel’s groundbreaking,” said Alison Johnson, marketing director for 322 Hospitality Group, which owns and operates the hotel and the businesses within it. said.
“What we are offering at The Landing is more on-brand for our guests and what we want to offer here,” Johnson said.
Cocktail lounge Sky’s 322 has already opened in the same building, and Blegen said 322 Hospitality Group is preparing Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea for the first week of December.
Johnson said the hotel will punctuate its debut with a 12-day Christmas celebration starting Dec. 25 and offer guests a variety of events unique to Grand Forks, including movie nights and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
“Being the only boutique hotel in Grand Forks gives us the opportunity to provide a niche experience for our guests,” Johnson said.
He said the hotel has established business relationships with nearby Lotus Yoga and the Grand Forks Downtown Development Association, and the hotel’s minibar is stocked with spirits and snacks from area businesses.
Joshua Irvine covers K-12 and higher education and the Grand Forks County Commission. He joined the Grand Forks Herald in October 2023.