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After much anticipation the Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pennsylvania is now officially ready to receive guests. This Benchmark Hospitality International property exemplifies the growing conference center trend of retro-fitting historic venues with state-of-the-art meeting technology, blending the contemporary with the classical.

The opening showcased the $120 million restoration and expansion of the venue, which dates back more than 200 years. "It is a special honor to comprehensively restore and reopen a property of such historic importance as Bedford Springs Resort," said Rikki Boparai, General Manager, Bedford Springs. "Over the past two centuries, this is where monumental events occurred and where people came to regain a renewed sense of well-being. Today we launch Bedford Springs into a new century of grand and gracious hospitality."

The restored/expanded venue now features a 20,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art conference center, nine conference and event rooms, Benchmark’s Signature Conference Concierge, 30,000 square-foot Springs Eternal Spa, 134 queen guest rooms, 81 double/double rooms, plus two hospitality suites and the fully restored Bedford Springs Old Course. On-site dining options, including the Crystal Dining Room, the Frontier Tavern, the 1796 Room, Che Sara Sara Café, the Turtle Shell, a pool-side eatery, and the Half-way House on the golf course.

The first guests welcomed at the restored resort were actually previous guests—Mr. and Mrs. Max Elbin of Bethesda, Maryland, who met at Bedford Springs in 1938 as teenagers, and Mrs. Nellie Burger Over, of nearby Somerset, Pennsylvania, who served as a waitress at Bedford Springs from 1937 to 1938.

"This historic property has been restored with historic authenticity and filled with exceptional memorabilia, but offers the modern conveniences of a luxury resort," said Keith Evans, managing partner, Bedford Resort Partners Ltd, owners/developers of the property. "We're thrilled to welcome our new employees and very special guests to the official re-opening of the Bedford Springs Resort."