HARLINGEN — Work on what city officials claimed last year would be a “world-class” hotel is set to begin Sept. 1.
The Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott is planned for the northbound side of I-69/U.S. 77/83 between Ed Carey Drive and New Hampshire Street.
What is new as of yesterday is the price of the project has finally been revealed — $8.5 million.
The hotel development is being led by Hiren Govind, CEO of Govind Development Co., in partnership with Qube Hotel Group, which will develop the site and manage the hotel.
The four-story, 94-room facility will employ between 25 and 30 people, city officials have said.
The construction of the new hotel is expected to take a year to complete, according to documents the hotel developers have filed with the state.
To sweeten the deal, which originally was announced in December, the city donated right-of-way property valued at $4,800.
Architects for the project will be JRK Design of Fort Worth. The firm has designed a number of hotels in Texas, including the Hampton Inn and Suites in Fort Worth, the Springhill Suites in Chasewood, the Courtyard Marriott in Abilene, the Holiday Inn Express in Waco and Town Place Suites in Seguin.
City officials, in announcing the hotel project last year, said the new hotel is one of several new such hospitality facilities coming to the city.
They linked the decision to locate the new hotel in Harlingen to the proximity to the Free Trade International Bridge at Los Indios and the Matamoros-to-Mazatlan Highway in Mexico, the city’s central location in the Rio Grande Valley and having Valley International Airport nearby.
A call for comment to Qube Hotel Group was not returned yesterday.
WHAT — 94-room Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott hotel
WHERE — On northbound I-69/U.S. 77/83 between Ed Carey Drive and New Hampshire Street
WHEN — Construction is scheduled to begin Sept. 1 and last for a year
COST — The projected budget for the project is $8.5 million
