NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) — A new $48 million facility, the first of its kind to be built for the U.S. Navy, opened Thursday afternoon at Naval Station Newport: “Navy Gateway Inns and Suites,” a hotel that naval staff, family members and retirees can use.
It is the first purpose-built lodging built by the Navy – as opposed to older buildings adapted and updated – and the first funded entirely by guest room charges, according to a Navy news release.
Officially known as “transient lodging,” the building’s primary customers are designed to be service members temporarily assigned to the naval base. It has all the standard amenities a mid-grade hotel would have while being on the installation, very close to where sailors may be serving their temporary duty (or “TDY”).
It also features a 24-hour, self-serve convenience store under the “Navy Exchange” retail/catering/canteen banner.
Attendees for Thursday afternoon’s ribbon-cutting gathered for a presentation out in the open air, enjoying the near 60-degree weather.
