City leaders hope more hotels bring more people, bigger events to Dayton
Convention planners and visitors have been frustrated over the years about the lack of hotel rooms in downtown Dayton , but that’s all changing now as a new facility off of East First Street is one of several that will bring plenty of new hotel rooms to the area.
The AC Hotel by Marriott hotel will be located right next to the Dragons Stadium and have 134 rooms for people traveling for businesses or for fun. It will also have a rooftop and other amenities.
Dayton City manager Shelley Dickstein said this hotel adds to the stream that began a couple years ago, when the 98 room Fairfield Inn opened on the other side of the ballpark.
There’s even more plans in the hotel room pipeline.
The 120 room Hotel Ardent is repurposing a historic downtown building and should open this summer or fall.
“It took several rounds for them to get through to the historic tax credits, but once they got them, its exciting,” Dickstein said.
Chris Kershner, the president of the Dayton area chamber of commerce, said the influx of new hotels is because investors see the need and the opportunity.
“They’re making investments because the market shows theres an opportunity to be successful,” Kershner said.
City leaders pointed out that the Arcade’s future development plans include a boutique hotel with up to 90 more rooms.
Visitors say if they are here for an event downtown, its nice to stay downtown, or at least within city limits.
“The less you can be on the road, the more you can leave your rehearsal site and where you are staying and get to the arena to perform, makes it so much easier,” said Brad Adams, a high school band director in town for Winter guard international competitions.
Adams said he would love to see more rooms available in Dayton.
City leaders believe they are important because the businesses highlighted would bring 445 new hotel rooms in a 5 year span.
It’s more than 50 million dollars of investment that will help bring more gatherings to Dayton through more conventions at the under renovation downtown Dayton Convention Center.
“Their concern has always been we need more hotel rooms to attract more of the really large conventions,” Dickstein said.
Dozens of Winters guard international groups will be throughout the Dayton area this weekend, but as Dayton builds out more and more hotel rooms, in the future these groups will be able to stay inside the city limits and be closer to their event venues.
