Oasis in O.C. at Ocean 7

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Each unit offers kitchenettes so guests can dine in if they choose to.

By MADDY VITALE Tucked close to the Boardwalk is Ocean 7, a condominium-hotel in Ocean City that features an expansive pool, rooms with individual flair and an array of amenities. Guests will enjoy the kitchenettes, free parking and the latest technology to please all ages, like free high-speed Wi-Fi. The bubble-themed exterior of the hotel at 870 E. 7th Street creates just one of the ways the hotel is inviting to families. There are a host of others, explained Vincent Ciro, president of Growth Properties Hospitality Management, the company that manages Ocean 7. “It is not a burden to get to the Boardwalk or the beach,” Ciro explained of the proximity of the hotel to the beach. “Families don’t have to worry about trudging toys and beach gear from blocks away." Ciro continued, "It is safe and fun for kids and there are all of the luxuries. For middle-school kids and older kids, it is a safe walk up to the Boardwalk. There is no intersection to cross.”

For guests who want to take a dip after the beach or Boardwalk, there is a luxury heated pool that awaits them at this resort hotel. Guests in the 75 units that range from studios to suites enjoy free parking, bike racks at the main entrance, the luxury heated pool, a laundry room and even complimentary coffee and tea in the lobby. Staff is available 24 hours a day. Growth Properties Hospitality Management, a professional hotel management company based in Bensalem, Pa., was hired by the condominium board of Ocean 7 in October of 2019. Since then, the company has worked on a variety of improvements to attract new guests and to also please the ones who have been coming back summer after summer. “We work with hotels that are very nice, but need some flair and excitement,” Ciro emphasized. Plans already underway are adding some special touches to the popular seaside resort. “We are doing $200,000 in renovations,” Ciro noted. “We are freshening it up.” While the bubbles in the eye-catching exterior will remain, the inside of the building is being transformed to create new looks and upgrade the technology to help attract millennials as well as to continue to please parents and their children.

Each unit offers kitchenettes so guests can dine in if they choose to. New flooring, new kitchenettes, countertops, bedding, paint, window treatments and drapes make up some of the updates to the hotel, which was originally built as a Days Inn years ago. All of the units will include high-definition TVs and Wi-Fi capability. “It’s great for families. The kids can stream shows after they get their energy out from a day of fun at the beach and Boardwalk,” Ciro said. In total, workers are sprucing up 65 of the 75 rooms. The other 10 already have had upgrades. Ciro explained that part of what makes Ocean 7 special and unique is that each unit is individually owned. “There is a rental program, which makes it a viable hotel for the consumer. It is run like a hotel with housekeeping and a front desk,” Ciro said. “Every room is different in terms of its look and feel. Each owner puts their touch to it, but they all fall into the category of beach-themed.” Guests literally can stay in the hotel every year and never be in the same room. The décor ranges from traditional to newer styles to attract millennials and families. “So, for the guests, unlike in many other hotels or motels, the customers are treated to kitchenettes that provide an added convenience, especially for visitors with families and for those who like to eat in,” Ciro said.

From studios to suites with two beds, there are amenities to meet the needs of all of the guests. The season begins the third weekend of April and runs through Columbus Day weekend in October. “The bulk of the business really comes from June to September. Beyond that, it really depends on the weather,” Ciro pointed out. “Our pricing model is competitive to the market for other hotels in our location,” Ciro said, adding that pricing is on the Ocean 7 website and varies per room. One of the focuses of Growth Properties is to work with beach towns such as Ocean City, Ciro said. Already, Ocean 7 reservations for the 2020 summer season are strong. “We’ve been happy with the pace of the reservations so far,” Ciro noted. “I think it is clearly people who have stayed here before and know how much Ocean 7 provides to its guests.” For more information, or too book a reservation, visit www.ocean7motel.com , call (609) 398-2200 or email [email protected].