After delays, the coronavirus pandemic and more delays, it looks like Kerrville's long-planned downtown hotel will is still a go.
The SpringHill Suites, a Marriot-owned brand, has been slated for a 2.5-acre parcel at Water and Spring streets, but it's faced numerous delays through the planning process.
Historic Downtown Business Association President Bill Rector said Thursday the project is still working toward a groundbreaking. Kerrville Mayor Bill Blackburn said he believed the hotel is still going to happen.
"It's still on track," Rector said during an interview on Thursday on The Lead Live with Delayne Sigerman. "It's still going to open."
For years, downtown Kerrville has been without a hotel. It was once home to the prominent Bluebonnet Hotel, which had a dominating view of the Guadalupe River near the site of the river overlook along Water Street and Earl Garrett Street.
Julie Davis, the head of Kerrville's Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the development of the hotel would be good news for the city and county's burgeoning tourism economy, which has been among the region's strongest performers during the pandemic.
The multistory hotel will not feature a conference center, Davis said. However, it's another important option in the hospitality mix for Kerrville, she said.
SpringHill Suites operates business-class accommodations and has locations throughout Texas.