BAY CITY, Mich. — A prominent piece of Bay City’s riverfront has new ownership and millions of dollars in federal financing behind it.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development office announced Wednesday, Aug. 5, that it awarded a $15.36 million loan to help facilitate the sale of the DoubleTree by Hilton Bay City – Riverfront.
The 150-room hotel is now owned by Bay City Hospitality Group LLC, marking another turn for a downtown property that went through foreclosure and an auction last year.
The hotel was purchased at auction by Delaware-based BCM Hotel LLC for $20 million following the foreclosure. Bay City Hospitality Group later acquired the property. The company was created by Maynak Tyagi, owner of Toronto-based property management and development company MK Group.
Hotel General Manager Jo Ellen Mikolajczak said the property plans to continue operating under the DoubleTree brand while the new ownership invests in the hotel, its employees and guest experience.
The property sits along the east bank of the Saginaw River and has long served as one of downtown Bay City’s primary hotels and conference destinations. Its location places guests within walking distance of Wenonah Park, downtown restaurants, shops and riverfront events.
The hotel’s financial troubles had raised questions about the future of a property closely tied to downtown tourism and large events.
The federal loan and ownership change now provide a measure of stability while opening the door for additional investment.
For Bay City, keeping the hotel operating is about more than preserving rooms for overnight visitors. The property anchors a highly visible stretch of riverfront that has become central to the city’s broader downtown redevelopment.
