The groundbreaking ceremony for a new Courtyard Marriott hotel in downtown Wilmington took place Thursday on Grace Street.
The 124-room project is expected to cost between $14-16 million and be complete within 16 months.
Tushar Zaver is the vice present of hotel operations for CN Hotels and says the Marriott will feature a 1,000-square foot meeting space as well as a Starbucks bistro.
"After our hotel opens, we will have a lot of growth in the area. We'll attract a lot of new businesses. We'll also be able to help the Convention Visitor's Bureau attract more meetings in the area which will strengthen the local economy with all the tax dollars it will produce."
The project is expected to create 200 construction jobs and 30 permanent positions at the hotel.
John Hinnant, president of Wilmington Downtown Incorporated, estimates with sales, occupancy tax, and parking fees, the hotel will generate revenue of $1 million each year for local and state economies.
Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? If so, we'd like to hear from you. Please email the WHQR News Team.