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Ohio County officials hope out-of-town residents come for conferences during the week at a Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites being constructed at The Highlands, then stay to shop and eat at businesses there during slower days at the development.
Ground work has started on a three-building conference center project at The Highlands, which will serve as the anchor for the area that includes the West Liberty University Building at the Town Center end of the development.
All three buildings are expected to be completed by the end of this summer, according to Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton, chairman of the Ohio County Development Authority.
“This will enhance the Town Center,” he said. “What I like about the conference center is the business they do is on off nights of the week – Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The people who come will be shopping and eating there. … This will be great diversification for The Highlands, and a great anchor for the development.”
The hotel building will consist of 60,000 square feet, four stories and 105 rooms. It will extend to a 6,700-square-foot connector building, which will then lead to a 4,100 square foot main conference hall.
The hotel is expected to include a modern lobby with fire place, an indoor swimming pool, a workout room, meeting rooms and an outdoor patio with fireplace.
The connector building will consist of two floors, with retail space on the first floor. The second floor will have a kitchen, as well as house the lobby and restrooms for the conference center. The main conference center facility will be equipped with modern technology and furnishings, and nearby WLU classrooms could be utilized if more space is needed, according to Wharton.
“There is a great need in Ohio County for conference space for smaller groups, and I’m sure Marriott Fairfield accommodations will be excellent and affordable,” he said. “I’m hoping this brings people from out of town to stay in the hotel, and at the same time this bolsters the county’s hotel-motel tax.”
The Marriott Fairfield complex will be the fourth hotel to be constructed on county-owned property at The Highlands, and the sixth in that area of development.
Wharton said Ohio County’s hotel-motel tax revenue has quadrupled since development began at The Highlands a decade ago. At that time the county took in approximately $150,000 annually from hotel stays. This year, that figure is expected to be $800,000, according to Wharton.