By Cecilia Nasmith

Hosted by the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce at Trade Tech Industries, their future neighbour, a warm welcome was extended Thursday to Hampton Inn owner Shahid Mahmood to celebrate the new Hampton Inn that will soon be under construction at Port Hope's Henderson Street industrial park.

Formal words of welcome were extended by dignitaries, including representatives of Northumberland-Peterborough South MP Phillip Lawrence and the Municipality of Port Hope.

“Thank you for trusting in us, in our community, investing joining us for what will be a very exciting ride,” Nortthumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini said.

“This industrial park is a big credit – thank you to the municipality for all they have done to attract businesses to this community and investing here. A stone's throw from the 401, on the lake, on the highway, on the rail line – and the Go Train is coming – all the right ingredients for growth.”

Looking ahead, Piccini sees families coming to town for soccer tournaments and businesspeople coming to town for conventions and meetings, all made more enjoyable with a quality hotel to stay in.

Speaking on behalf of the chamber – the voice of business in Port Hope for more than 135 years – Marc Cowin said the hotel represented a great opportunity for the town and its surrounding community. And executive director Brenda Whitehead offered the perspective of someone involved in minor sports who must travel to tournaments and find lodgings for team members. A beautiful facility with 80 rooms makes Port Hope a desirable stop, she said.

Thanking the community for the warm welcome, Mahmood noted that there will also be meeting and conference rooms as well as a pool.

“It will be a beautiful addition for this community,” he said.

Things were made even warmer by Trade Tech's neighbourly gesture in providing coffee and tea. Mahmood (along with his friends and family members) brought in trays of colourful treats.

The reception was followed by a ceremonial groundbreaking, where it was revealed that the new hotel will be on a corner lot where the new road that will connect Henderson Street with County Road 2 will intersect – putting both the Hampton and Trade Tech on corner lots across the street from each other, Trade Tech at 100 Henderson St. and the Hampton at 80 Henderson St.