$25 million hotel and conference center coming to Plainfield
PLAINFIELD, Ind. (WISH) – A multi-million dollar agreement that will bring an Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center to Plainfield was announced Thursday.
The center will be right on the I-70 interchange at the intersection of Perry Road and Clarks Creek Road near the Indianapolis International Airport.
“I think it would be cool,” Plainfield resident Katelyn Mcclain said. “I never really thought about it, but it would be cool to have people come here and see the city. It’s not too far from Indy where there’s all these cool attractions, so I think it would be cool.”
“I’m pretty surprised,” Plainfield resident Lilly Crews said. “What type of convention are we supposed to have in Hendricks County versus the big convention center we have in Indianapolis?”
County leaders said they’re not competing with Indianapolis.
“The airport has relocated,” Visit Hendricks County executive director Jamie Bohler Smith said. “It is thriving. The tourism industry in Indiana is doing very well. There’s a definite need for a project like this, in the size and scope on the west side.”
The agreement involves the Hendricks County Tourism Commission in partnership with Sun Companies.
The land is owned by the Tourism commission and they hoped to draw a hotel and conference center there since 2005, according to the release.
“We took our time, and researching additional projects and additional developers through the years,” Smith said. “The time is right.”
County council unanimously approved a $6 million bond Thursday to buy land and build the center. It’ll be repaid from the county’s innkeeper tax.
“The Commission’s objective since we purchased the land over 10 years ago was to attract a project of this scope,” Smith said. “We couldn’t be more pleased with this agreement and its significance to the future of tourism in this county as it will be a major destination driver to our community.”
The hotel will have a 175 rooms, a minimum of 5,000 square feet of meeting space, 20,000 square feet of conference space and a full service restaurant.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing this level of hotel to Hendricks County,” said Suraj Patel, president of Sun Companies. “We have a 25-year history of working with communities across Indiana to bring the highest caliber of hospitality properties and help those communities continue to grow and attract businesses.”
Once completed in 2018, the center is predicted to bring in $6 million in room revenue.
“I-70 and Indiana 267 is the western gateway for Indy Metro, and since the relocation of the Indianapolis International Airport terminals, the interchange has become the primary lodging cluster for the airport but lacks an upscale, full-service hotel with sizeable banquet facilities,” Bharat Patel said. “This project will fulfill all of that by providing a facility with a quality restaurant, conference space and more.”
Work should begin on the center this fall.