The inn owners, Sue and Ken Braaten, had planned the addition from the beginning. “When we originally did the project, we hoped down the road to add this (second wing) if there was need,” Sue Braaten said.

The expansion will allow the hotel to accommodate larger company retreats and conferences. A hospitality room with a full-size refrigerator was also part of the remodel, which started this summer.

The two new meeting rooms have state of the art equipment. A large plasma television allows laptops to be connected to it for presentations; high-speed and wireless Internet is available. One of the meeting rooms opens right into the pool area, where a tent has been added for a comfortable space for social events.

The new rooms include eight suits, each featuring a fireplace, Jacuzzi, large-screen TVs and a small living room that can be used for a meeting or for families with children. “By doing the addition, we’re able to accommodate the types of rooms people wanted,” Braaten said.

The Braatens decided to open Wesley Inn to fill a need for comfortable accommodations in Gig Harbor. Ken built both the original building and the addition. Their goal has been to offer a place that feels like home, so they spared no detail: Luxurious bedding, oversized desks and chairs for business travelers, pet-friendly rooms, an outdoor heated pool and admission to a local fitness center are among of the accommodations they now offer.

Wesley Inn can accommodate business events, parties and wedding receptions. Braaten noted that Gig Harbor is becoming a destination wedding place, where more people are coming just to get married. With its great golf, boating, shopping and other attractions, the area is seeing an increased interest from tourists. “It’s a wonderful getaway,” Braaten said.