For the City Times

STEVENS POINT –Sentry today has announced plans to build a boutique hotel at SentryWorld, its golf course located across the street from the mutual insurer’s Stevens Point headquarters. The hotel will serve the company’s business clientele, golfers, and visitors to the community.

The hotel will be built just off the course’s 18th fairway, providing views of the course and its parkland setting. The hotel will features pacious suites and intimate gathering spaces.

“Sentry thrives on building relationships and delivering exceptional customer service,” said Pete McPartland, Sentry chairman of the board, president, and CEO.“Owning and operating a boutique hotel on our campus will allow us to provide our business insurance customers, agents and brokers a truly distinctive experience. And, it will offer visitors to SentryWorld, and our community, extraordinary comfort and amenities during their stay.”

Positioned near the entrance to Stevens Point, the hotel will offer increased accommodations and event spaces.

“The Stevens Point area has a wide variety of accommodations for visitors. Adding a luxury hotel to the mix will serve those seeking that one-of-a-kind experience,” said Sara Brish, executive director of the Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Being located at SentryWorld, with its beautiful, high-quality event spaces, will help attract more weddings, corporate retreats and tradeshows to our community.”

The SentryWorld complex, located within steps of the planned hotel, offers unique event spaces, including an Atrium, Grand Hall and Fieldhouse, to host bigger weddings and conferences. SentryWorld also provides professional event-planning and catering services, plus a restaurant and bar, Bridal Salon and Pergola for outdoor weddings.

Swaback Architects, which designed the reimagined SentryWorld complex in 2013, will design the hotel.

“Our vision with the hotel is to follow the contemporary lines of SentryWorld with a blend of stone, heavy timbers and plenty of grandeur that will make the property enjoyable year-round,” said John Sather, Swaback managing partner. “The room views will be absolutely stunning. And the hotel will have an active vibe, as we look to connect the indoors to the outdoors and make good use of the adjacent 27-mile recreational trail.

“Instead of a typical lobby, picture a gathering room that will welcome guests home—that’s what we’re envisioning with this new hotel. By adding lodging to all the other activities, including dining and golf, SentryWorld really becomes an event and recreation destination like no other in central Wisconsin.”

J.H. Findorff& Son, which built the new Sentry office last year in Stevens Point, will oversee construction.

Sentry will break ground on the project by the spring of 2020. The facility is scheduled to open in the spring of 2021.