DoubleTree hotel called 'transformative' for Abilene at opening event

It was all about the cookie Tuesday - OK, maybe a little about collaboration and vision. But at the opening celebration for the new DoubleTree by Hilton, many said the hotel will be the cherry on top for Abilene development.

The lobby hallway was filled with dignitaries and well-wishers. Guests included Shawn McAteer,  senior vice president and global head for DoubleTree. He also as known as "the cookie man," as he was when introduced.

"This is amazing," McAteer said. "I've been to a lot of events in my career and this is one of the top." You tell can the love and the pride in this city just by looking down this hallway.

"What an amazing, beautiful place. I am so proud of this hotel."

He called the official name of the hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton: Abilene Downtown Convention Center.

It now is one of 660 Hilton properties. McAteer noted the Conrad Hilton story began in this area, in Cisco in 1919. The Windsor in Abilene was a leased Hilton property from 1927-45 and the second to have the Hilton name. The first branded Hilton was in Dallas, opened in 1925. Thus, Abilene has a special place in company history.

"I congratulate all the teams involved in bringing this property to life," he said. He began with hotel general manager John Kukreja, who otherwise was referred to as "John K."

"This is a true hub of meeting and event space," McAteer said, noting the frontier elements that making the Abilene hotel unique to all others in the chain.

McAteer praised the city and others for having the vision to build the hotel to drive business and spur downtown to thrive.

"This hotel is one of, if not the best examples in the entire country, of how we like to bring the brand to life."

Names of key people involved in the project were called out and congratulations was widespread. A downtown convention-style hotel was an idea floated about 30 years ago, but one that took hold 10 years ago, when then-Mayor Norm Archibald made it a priority. Two mayors later, it opened.

Mayor details the journey

Weldon Hurt, mayor for two months but a member of the City Council for six years, jokingly said it nice to take credit for the hotel.

"I'm a little giddy," Hurt said. "I am way more than excited. This day has been a long time coming."

Hurt gave a brief timeline of the project, starting in 2013, when Archibald publicly announced the need for this kind of hotel in a State of the City address.

The project got a boost in May 2017, when the Texas Legislature passed a bill that would return state tax revenues to cities to support a project that would boost development. Hurt thanked then-state Sen. Dawn Buckingham and state Rep. Stan Lambert for their roles in pushing that legislation through.

"This wouldn't be here without their hard work," Hurt said.

Next, Texas-based real estate developer Garfield Public/Private entered a partnership with the city to build a hotel. Co-founder Raymond Garfield represented the firm at Tuesday's event.

He called the DoubleTree project "transformative" for Abilene. "We're bursting with pride as you guys move forward with one of the most important pieces of infrastructure in your history."

Funding for the project was finalized in 2019, Hurt said, and a master development agreement was signed by the city, the Abilene Convention Center Hotel Corporation and Garfield for design and construction.

Ground was broken in October 2021, when an 18-month timetable set. The hotel opened just about right on time, a feat considering this was a post-pandemic effort and many of those here and elsewhere have been plagued by supply chain issues and rising costs.

The seven-story DoubleTree did not double in cost, but it came close. A project that began with a cost at more than $40 million and utilizing public and private funds, finished at more than $80 million.

Hurt thanked City Manager Robert Hanna was leading the city's side of the project, noting the additional work of Councilman Shane Price.

"This was a weekly project for him," Hurt said of Price.

Centerpiece for Abilene

The hotel covers a city block, bounded by North Fifth and Sixth streets, and Cypress and Cedar streets. Through traffic now is closed on North Sixth between the hotel and the Abilene Convention Center.

The last structure at the site was the city's water department, which was relocated. Long-timers will remember the Greyhound bus station was at the corner of North Sixth and Cedar streets.

Hurt said the hotel already is a catalyst for growth.

Since June 2018, 69 other certificates of occupancy have been issued for the downtown area, he said. About 140 new jobs have been created, he said.

Local businesses such as Ingram Cleaners and food and beverages distributors Bill Reed and Ben E. Keith.

"We are using a lot more local people to generate money for our local economy," Hurt said.

Twenty groups already have signed on to meet in Abilene, headquartering at the DoubleTree.

Perry pops in

Also speaking Tuesday was state Sen. Charles Perry, who he was not sure if he could make it but "what a good day it is to be in Abilene, Texas.

"It's always good to see growth, but it's even better when it's great growth."

That's a credit to people, he said.

"And it doesn't hurt to have a chocolate chip cookie waiting for you when you show up," he said, to laughter.

He later was promised a lifetime supply by McAteer.

Perry wasn't sure that was a good idea. He has stayed at DoubleTrees during legislative sessions, he said, and claimed to have put on eight pounds.

"Every time you walk in," he said, "they're handing you a cookie."

Perry said investments such as the hotel in Abilene show a re-investment in West Texas. People are "leaving the urban rat race" and moving back. They can stay connected yet enjoy West Texas values.

"You create a need for people to come visit you," he said. And they need a place to stay.

Six million people visit Lubbock every year, he said.

"Abilene will be no different."

Nanci calls hotel 'fabulous'

The downtown hotel quietly opened June 28, with Nanci Liles the first guest to register. She was the guest of former City Councilwoman Donna Albus for the first night as council members were the first to check in to check out the new hotel.

"Fabulous," she said Tuesday of her overnight stay. She was not expecting the honor. "I was totally surprised."

Everything was nice - her evening meal, lounging by the pool and the comfy rooms.

As for the years of work that went into landing the hotel, she summed it up in a word: "Finally."

She walked into the hotel and was swept with nostalgia, thinking about decades of effort. She believes the hotel further will drive downtown development and force other hotels in Abilene to up their game. The hotel exceeds her expectations, though she had set them high.

The former longtime director of the Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau was one of the strongest proponents of the hotel. She believed it would be a game-changer to attracting more events in the city, in turn a boost to the local economy.

Her name was one of many called out Tuesday, and the applause was a close second to that for cookies.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: DoubleTree hotel called 'transformative' for Abilene at opening event