New Ownership FAQ

Is the Harbor Winds Hotel being sold?

Yes, after many years of successful operations, the Zipperer Family decided to sell this hotel.  They still own the Holiday Inn Express and the AmericInn Hotel and continue to be dedicated to the Sheboygan area.  Mark Zipperer, President of Pride Hospitality, approached Luke Pfeifer, who worked in their hotels during high school and college, with the option of purchasing the hotel.  

Who are the new owners?

The property is being purchased by a partnership between Luke & Monica Pfeifer and Chad & Meagan Markovich.  The Pfeifer’s who are the majority and operating partners are proud natives of Wisconsin, and both graduated from nearby Lakeland University with degrees in Hospitality Management.  In 2020 the Pfeifer’s purchased Maxwell Mansion in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  The 28-room boutique hotel property has a rich history dating back to 1856 and features two craft cocktail bars, including one of the top 10 Speakeasy bars in the US. The Pfeifer’s combined have over 40 years of hospitality experience ranging from operations to sales to technology roles.  In Wisconsin, we have worked at properties including Holiday Inn Express and Blue Harbor Resort both in Sheboygan, and Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan.  You can read more about our background at adventurehospitality.com.

Chad and Meagan Markovich are longtime friends of the Pfeifer’s having met while the Pfeifer’s worked with Chad at Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio.  Meagan brings her Doctor of Pharmacy degree to the team along with a business minor. She has 20 plus years of pharmacy experience which includes retail, inpatient and outpatient hospital as well as project development and management.  Meagan and Chad’s recent move to WI has brought an opportunity for her to bring her skills of organization and connecting with patients to hospitality.  This unique perspective has added tremendous value to the team.  Chad’s more than 20 years of hospitality experience grew out of working and supervising ride operators on the shores of Lake Erie.  Other notable roles include working in Human Resources on the opening and expansion teams of an 800+ room waterpark resort, as well as Housekeeping Director, Guest Services Director, Executive Director of Operations for various resorts.

When will the acquisition be complete?

We are currently waiting on final approvals.  Our goal is to complete the acquisition on or around May 1, 2023.  A press release will be issued on or shortly after the acquisition is complete.

Will the hotel operate until the acquisition is complete?

Until the closing the property is owned by Harbor Pride LLC and managed by Pride Hospitality.  The property recently reopened from a seasonal closure with our team will be onsite and focused on the transition through day-to-day operations of the property.  Following acquisition, we intend to open year-round.

What about Pride Hospitality’s other Sheboygan properties?

This sale does not impact Pride Hospitality’s other properties including Holiday Inn Express and AmericInn located in Sheboygan.  Harbor Winds will have an affiliated relationship with both properties, working together to drive lodging business in Sheboygan.

Will hotel reservations already booked be honored?

Yes, all existing paid hotel reservations already booked will be honored.  Deposits made toward existing reservations will be honored based on the terms of the reservation.

Will the name change?

The hotel name will continue to operate as Harbor Winds Hotel. Our address and phone numbers will remain the same.

Are there any plans to renovate or otherwise change the property?

The current owner has done a great job caring for the property since they took over ownership of the property in 1999.  In the future we expect to make some improvements and changes to the property. No major renovations are planned at this time.

Will the website or emails change?

Nothing to worry about – you will always be able to reach out to us with our existing website and email addresses!  We are also adding the address stayharborwinds.com and are looking forward to launching a new website soon.

What if I need a refund from a prior reservation or event?

Refunds of any payments, except deposits, made before we acquire the property will need to be issued by the prior owner.  We will gladly share your refund request with the previous owner for review.

Are you hiring?

We are excited with the opportunity to work with Lakeland University and their hospitality program.  Our management team are recent graduates of Lakeland University in the Hospitality Program and we are excited to have them on our team.  Positions are available in Guest Services and Housekeeping and are posted here.