FirstPathway Weblog

This week the Milwaukee Marriott’s restaurant was featured in several publications. The Milwaukee themed restaurant, seating a projected 155 guests, will serve local Wisconsin cheeses, craft beers and Usinger’s sausages, as well as fresh fish from the Great Lakes. The restaurant, developed by CZH Hospitality Group in an exclusive relationship White Lodging Services Corp, will use locally sourced building materials to blend urban décor with historic Downtown Milwaukee characteristics.

“White Lodging, Carl Bruggemeier and CZH Hospitality represent the gold standard in the hospitality industry, and what they plan to bring to Milwaukee is truly exceptional,” said Ed Carow, managing partner of hotel developer Jackson Street Holdings.  CZH
Hospitality Group, is known for its work on such restaurants as Tavern on the Green in New York.

FirstPathway Partners is proud to manage investments in the Milwaukee Marriott.

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Sunday, May 27, 2012- Today the FirstPathway Partner’s funded Downtown Milwaukee Marriott was featured in the Business Journal.  The project is slated for completion in 2013. It will be the first full-service hotel built downtown in more than 20 years.
The project will be located in the heart of the downtown central business district of Milwaukee, WI, USA on the southwest corner of East Wisconsin Avenue and North Milwaukee Street, surrounding the Johnson Bank building.

The iconic $56 Million dollar, 10-story, 197,000 square foot hotel will feature a luxurious high-end restaurant, lobby bar, Starbucks, and a jeweler. Hotel amenities will include a fully equipped fitness center, a swimming pool, business center, concierge service, and gift shop.

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This week Milwaukee’s Aloft Hotel was announced number 8 on TripAdvisor’s Travelers choice 2012, Top 25 Trendiest Hotels in the United States. The Aloft ranked above hotels like the Hilton New York Fashion District hotel (15) and the W Hotel in San Francisco (24).

The five-story, 160-room, Aloft Hotel Milwaukee is a FirstPathway Partners project which opened in 2009. It is one of 43 Aloft hotels in the United States. The Aloft (Milwaukee), a brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is located downtown at 1230 N. Old World Third St., in the Park East corridor. It is the first Aloft location in southeastern Wisconsin and features 5,000 square feet of meeting space, a fitness center, an indoor pool overlooking the riverwalk, laptop stations,  pool table and the Wxyz Bar in the lobby/lounge area. Nearby attractions include- the Milwaukee River, The Bradley Center (home of the Milwaukee Bucks) and trendy local bars/restaurants.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels-cTrendy

On Thursday, December 8, 2011 Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners, joined Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett as he presented a bronze bald eagle sculpture to the city of Ningbo, China in celebration of Milwaukee’s five-year anniversary with the City.  In 2006, Milwaukee signed a cooperative MOU with Ningbo, China.

The gift, a beautifully carved, 6 ft., bronze bald eagle, created by artist Mike Capser, symbolizes the American spirit and continued development of a dynamic partnership between Ningbo and Milwaukee. The sculpture will be on display at the Ningbo Museum. This gift is in response to the 2008 presentation of Ningbo’s two stone lions to the city of Milwaukee. The lions can be seen at the entrance of the Zeidler Municipal Building on Broadway St. in downtown Milwaukee.

First Pathway Partners, Chairman/CEO and MMAC China Council Co-Chair Bob Kraft, spoke on behalf of Milwaukee Business leaders at the event.

Monday, November  28,  2011 – FirstPathway Partners was on site to celebrate the construction kick-off of its most recent project, a world class 201-room, 4-star, full-service, Marriott Hotel.  Armed with sledgehammers, Mayor Tom Barrett and FirstPathway Partners Chairman and CEO Bob Kraft were in attendance alongside representatives from Jackson Street Management, Marriott and White Lodging to bring down the first wall on the site that will later be transformed into the new Marriott.

This catalytic project funded in part by the FirstPathway EB5 program will create jobs, enhance the neighborhood and help many deserving family’s make their American dream come true.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2013. It will be the first full-service hotel built downtown in more than 20 years. The project will be located in the heart of the downtown central business district of Milwaukee, WI, USA on the southwest corner of East Wisconsin Avenue and North Milwaukee Street, surrounding the Johnson Bank building.

The iconic $54 Million dollar, 10-story, 197,000 square foot hotel will feature a luxurious high-end restaurant, lobby bar, Starbucks, a jeweler, 15,000 square feet of meeting/banquet space, and 60 underground parking stalls.  Hotel amenities will include a fully equipped fitness center, a swimming pool, business center, concierge service, and gift shop.

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This week the international table tennis world shifted its attention to Milwaukee as the Frontier Airlines Convention Center hosted The USA Table Tennis Federation’s US Open tournament featuring 700 elite table tennis athletes from 15 countries. The Open is part of Milwaukee’s 2011 ‘Summer of China’ designated by Mayor Tom Barrett.

The 2011 Open was politically significant in that it marked the 40th anniversary of “ping pong diplomacy,” a 1971 Beijing table tennis exhibition which helped open trade and diplomacy between the US and China. A Chinese delegation including several original “ping pong diplomacy” competitors and Chinese dignitaries attended the Open.

The “Summer of China” continues with The Milwaukee Art Museum’s summer series, The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City, contents of the Qianlong Emperor’s private retreat, on view now through Sunday, September 11. Milwaukee is honored to be one of few cities selected to host this never before seen exhibition and historic tournament.

Wednesday, May 4 – Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners/Co-chair of the MMAC China Council joined Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett in welcoming representatives of the US Olympic Committee and USA Table Tennis Federation during a recent site visit.

Milwaukee is honored to hosts The USA Table Tennis Federation’s US Open tournament featuring 700 elite table tennis athletes from 15 countries. The open takes place at the Frontier Airlines Convention Center, June 30 through July 4 during Milwaukee’s “Summer of China.”

The Open is politically significant in that it marks the 40th anniversary of “ping pong diplomacy,” a 1971 Beijing table tennis exhibition which helped open trade and diplomacy between the US and China. A Chinese delegation which includes several original “ping pong diplomacy” competitors is scheduled to appear.

Milwaukee’s “Summer of China,” also includes The Milwaukee Art Museum’s summer series, The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City, contents of the Qianlong Emperor’s private retreat. Milwaukee is honored to be one of few cities selected to host this never before seen exhibition and historic tournament.

Starting June 10th Milwaukee’s gift will be on display for residents before being shipped to its permanent home in Ningbo, China. In 2011 Milwaukee will present its sister city Ningbo with the 6 ft golden eagle. This gift is in response to the 2008 presentation of Ningbo’s two stone lions to the city of Milwaukee. The lions can be seen at the entrance of the Zeidler Municipal Building on Broadway St. in downtown Milwaukee.

The eagle, created by created by artist Mike Capser, is currently on display at the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) lobby on the first floor. Viewers are welcome.

Wednesday June 9, 2010- This week the Milwaukee delegation visited Ningbo, China to participate in an international trade exhibition and meet with local officials. Ningbo and Milwaukee have been unofficial sister cities since 2006.

During their visit the delegation meet with Deputy Party Secretary Yijun Tang, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Ningbo Sub-Council (CCPIT) /China Chamber of Commerce Ningbo Chamber (CCOIC) Chairman Mr. Zheng Wei Gu and officers of the Ningbo Municipal Government and Foreign Affairs Office.

Throughout meetings Yijun Tang focused on the rapid growth of cooperative initiatives between Ningbo and Milwaukee since becoming sister cities in 2006.

The Milwaukee delegation, led by Martha Brown, Deputy Commissioner of City Development and Bob Kraft, MMAC China Council Co-Chair and Chairman/CEO of FirstPathway Partners would like to thank all of their friends in Ningbo for their gracious hospitality.

Click here to read the Ningbo Daily article

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FirstPathway Partners was honored to host Kevin Yuan of Nanjing, China this week.  During his visit Mr. Yuan met with high level MMAC officials to discuss EB5. Yuan also toured projects and areas of development throughout the region including The Pabst City Development, The Menomonee Valley and others. FirstPathway Partners looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Yuan and Qiaoye Investment Consulting Co.,Ltd.

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