April 16–A proposed extended-stay hotel project could start construction later this year, adding more than 100 rooms to the hundreds that have come into the market in recent years.
The project, which is planned for the intersection of Golden Road and Old Troup Highway, would be a Homewood Suites by Hilton, said Amit Patel, with development company Lodgic Hospitality.
Patel said the project remains in the development stage, and depending on a pre-development meeting next week with the city, the goal is to fit 113 rooms on the site.
A potential zone change to allow for the proposed hotel development is slated to go before the Planning and Zoning Commission in May, city of Tyler Planning Director Heather Nick said. The commission at that time will consider whether to recommend that the City Council approve the zone change.
The hotel would join a string of hotels that have entered the market or are in the planning stages.
The 69-room Country Inn and Suites, the 125-room Hilton Garden Inn, the Courtyard Marriott on South Broadway Avenue and Staybridge Suites on Loop 323 are among the hotels that have opened in the last five or six years.
In 2013, Executive Inn & Suites, 3701 Chandler Highway, opened with more than 40 rooms, said Shari Rickman, general manager and vice president at the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau.
And other hotels are slated to open within the next two years, including a La Quinta Inn at 2552 SSE Loop 323, near Staybridge Suites, as well as a Residence Inn by Marriott, which will be located north of Kohl’s and is estimated to have about 120 rooms, she said.
Additionally, a Hampton Inn and Suites is planned for The Village at Cumberland Park development off South Broadway Avenue. Patel said Hampton Inn and Suites will have 107 rooms.
Ms. Rickman said she believes the demand for hotel rooms in Tyler is appropriate and mirrors growth seen across Texas.
“We’re feeling there’s building all over the state, but we’re getting our fair share,” Ms. Rickman said.
Currently, she said, a lot of hotel stays are contractors with the Village at Cumberland development.
She said Tyler also attracts regional managers from various East Texas companies, along with sales people, who come in town for the week to do business.
Beyond that, she said, business people from multiple sectors such as medical, technology and oil and gas are doing business in Tyler.
Ms. Rickman said corporate travel arrives on Monday and typically leaves Thursday or Friday. Then on the weekends, there is a new group of people who stay at Tyler hotels, such as those in town for a sporting event or those who come for a special event.
Recently, she said, there has been some disappointment that the azaleas peaked after the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail, which ran from March 21 to April 6.
Still, Ms. Rickman said, hotels have indicated they’ve had some pretty good occupancy the last few weeks.
The Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau has not yet figured out the exact economic impact of the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail.
Managing Editor Brian Pearson contributed to this story.
