BELLEFONTE — Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County held a ribbon cutting for the new Avid Hotel Bellefonte by IHG, 132 Amberleigh Lane, Bellefonte on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
The ribbon cutting was part of the hotel’s official grand opening, which included remarks by SAI 21 ownership group officials, and tourism and community leaders. Tours of the hotel property were available following the ribbon cutting.
“We have been anticipating this day since ground was broken in June 2024,” said HVAB President and CEO Fritz Smith. “We applaud the SAI 21 ownership group and the Patel family for their continued investment in our tourism infrastructure.
“There is a lot of positive progress occurring throughout the county right now, and certainly in Bellefonte and along the Benner Pike corridor,” Smith continued. “Additional lodging options complement this growth and are both reflective of and supportive of a strong visitor economy.”
According to a tourism economic impact report from the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Centre County has the second-fastest-growing tourism market in Pennsylvania since the pandemic, positioned between Philadelphia and Allegheny counties.
After a record year for visitation in 2024, tourism finished strong in 2025. The early outlook for 2026 is potentially another record year, with January visitation already up 12.5 percent over 2025.
“Avid and Candlewood Suites, a new IHG property in Bellefonte, strengthens Happy Valley’s hospitality offerings and supports our growing economy,” said CBICC President and CEO Greg Scott. “We’re proud to welcome the hotel to Centre County, both as a new business and as a new member of the Chamber network.”
