A new boutique hotel is under development in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The development is possible because of the partnership of Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder and chief creative officer and director of Vera Bradley, and Portland-based hotel management company Provenance Hotels. Baekggard will contribute her design sense, while Provenance hotel will offer their knowledge of local hotel management.
Baekgaard co-founded Vera Bradley in Fort Wayne where it became a top brand for bags, luggage, fashion accessories, and more. Baekgaard’s is an active part of the Fort Wayne community and has always wanted to open a hotel in the area.
“My intention is to create a place that’s unique to Fort Wayne and reflects the pride we have in our city. A place where our community can come together to do business, celebrate life’s special moments and connect on a regular basis—that’s what Provenance Hotels does best,” says Baekgaard. “They have a solid track record of success, the unique perspective of being owners themselves and an authentic approach to creating independent hotels that are rooted in the community. I’m confident we are going to create something truly special and worthy of Fort Wayne.”
Baekgaard and Provenance Hotels are working alongside Greater Fort Wayne Inc., and the City of Fort Wayne to select a location for the hotel. The goal of the hotel is to help the city raise minimum wage and better the city’s economy.
“We couldn’t be more excited about working with Barbara to make her dream for Fort Wayne a reality,” said Bashar Wali, president of Provenance Hotels. “We always seek out partners with vision and projects in forward-looking cities where we can craft hotels that engage, reflect and embody the local spirit. There is no question that Barbara is a visionary and that Fort Wayne is a city positioning itself for a bright, dynamic future. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to become a part of that.”
The hotel will feature 120 rooms with food, beverage and meeting space options, and is slated to open in 2019.
