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The Asbury hotel begins its road back from the Covid-19 pandemic with a reopening for room reservations starting on June 25. 

“The Asbury will reopen for hotel room reservations on June 25th with limited availability,” said David Bowd, founder and chief executive of Salt Hotels, which operates the hotel for waterfront redeveloper iStar. 

“We will work closely with the Governor’s office and City Council as we open the various outlets within the hotel in compliance with CDC guidelines, and within the procedures set forth by the state of New Jersey and the city of Asbury Park,” said Bowd. 

Asbury Lanes will remain closed given the uncertainty of concert and event spaces, Bowd said. 

The Asbury Ocean Club waterfront high rise, which includes private residences and a hotel and restaurant, will do a phased reopening. That will start with residents only, then a phase with a limited number of residents’ guests allowed to use common facilities and finally the reopening of the hotel to guests in the spring of 2021. 

Asbury Lanes and the Asbury Ocean Club hotel are also owned by iStar and operated by Salt Hotels.

Because of these restrictions on operations, Bowd said that a full workforce cannot be brought back. 

“These decisions affect our people,” said Bowd. “Due to these continued temporary closures, it is with a heavy heart that we announce that we will not be able to bring back our full workforce. We have made every effort to retain as many of our employees as possible, including allowing individuals to work from home when possible, and shifting members of our team to The Asbury.”

“We would not be where we are without this amazing Asbury Park community,” he said. “These difficult decisions impact us personally and professionally. We will diligently work to return to normalcy, and are confident that we will get through this and emerge stronger than before.”

The following is Bowd’s full statement:

Due to COVID-19, we have made the following decisions with regard to our Asbury Park businesses:

The Asbury will reopen for hotel room reservations on June 25th with limited availability. We will work closely with the Governor’s office and City Council as we open the various outlets within the hotel in compliance with CDC guidelines, and within the procedures set forth by the state of New Jersey and the city of Asbury Park.

After thoughtful consideration, Asbury Ocean Club will begin a phased approach and remain open to residents only during this time. Our primary concern has always been the health and welfare of our guests, residents and employees and this approach allows us to control foot traffic during the high summer season and better resume operations under safe social distancing protocols. Phase II of reopening will allow residents to invite a limited number of guests for use of the property amenities and public spaces; phase III will include the reopening of reservations for hotel guests in the spring of 2021. 

Unfortunately, given the uncertainty of the concert and events space, we have made the difficult decision to have Asbury Lanes remain closed until it is safe enough to open its doors again.

These decisions affect our people. Due to these continued temporary closures, it is with a heavy heart that we announce that we will not be able to bring back our full workforce. We have made every effort to retain as many of our employees as possible, including allowing individuals to work from home when possible, and shifting members of our team to The Asbury.

We would not be where we are without this amazing Asbury Park community. These difficult decisions impact us personally and professionally. We will diligently work to return to normalcy, and are confident that we will get through this and emerge stronger than before. 

David Bowd
Founder + Chief Executive
Salt Hotels

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