Kokomo Sharpens Focus on Downtown Hotel
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowKokomo has commissioned a site analysis on a downtown potential hotel and conference center the city says will take it to the “next level” as a business and convention destination. Katie Guyer with the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance says the city has had to turn away events because it does not have the meeting space organizers want. Locally-based architecture firm Dimensions Inc. will conduct the study, with results expected this summer.
April 8, 2015
News Release
Kokomo, Ind. — Following recent market research and a demand for services, the Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau has commissioned a site analysis on a downtown property as a potential site for a select-service hotel and conference center. The proposed location, which sits on Superior Street bordered by Main Street, Union Street, and the Wildcat Creek, will be assessed by Kokomo-based architecture firm Dimensions, Inc. to determine its suitability for the project.
A 2013 Kokomo Conference, Event Center, and Hotel Feasibility Study conducted by real estate advisory firm Hunden Strategic Partners concluded that the local economy could support a hotel facility with an on-site conference center. Study research found that no competing facility existed within 35 miles and, as a result, Kokomo and Howard County could benefit significantly from the addition of a hotel and conference center.
“This planned site analysis is the logical next step in developing the future of Kokomo and Howard County’s hospitality and travel industry,” said Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance President Charlie Sparks. “Many events and conferences desire locations where the meeting facilities and hotel accommodations are both on-site, and because we don’t currently have that type of facility we lose these events to other communities. The addition of a hotel and conference center in Kokomo would provide a significant economic impact through increased activity from hotel stays, visitor expenditures, and visits to area attractions and businesses. At this stage, we’re just doing our due diligence to determine this site’s feasibility and the potential economic impact of development at this location.”
The development and implementation of a hotel and conference center is a strategic priority identified in the Programs of Work of both the Alliance and the Visitors Bureau. The hotel and conference center site analysis is expected to be conducted this spring, with results and outlook concluded by the end of Q2 2015.
About the Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau
The Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau strives to attract corporate and public tourism to Kokomo and Howard County through the promotion of the area’s many attractions, amenities, and historical significance. The Visitors Bureau facilitates group visits, festivals and events, corporate meetings, sports tournaments, and personal visits for individuals and families, while also providing programs and information to engage current residents. The Visitors Bureau is a division of the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance. To learn more, visit www.VisitKokomo.org.
Source: Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau