The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is looking to land another hotel in Chatham and wants to send out feelers to determine if there's any interest from developers.
On Monday night at their meeting, councillors will be asked to direct administration to issue an Expression of Interest for the development of a hotel next to the John Bradley Convention Centre.
A staff report stated the midscale to upper midscale branded, limited-service hotel would have the appropriate amenities for both business and leisure travellers.
An accommodation needs assessment confirmed the lack of licensed accommodation in Chatham-Kent to assist investors when choosing Chatham-Kent as a place for development.
The assessment also validated that the Richmond Street corridor would be the most attractive for future hotel development because it's a major thoroughfare and has many support amenities, including retail, food service, the Cascades Casino and the Bradley Convention Centre.
The area also provides good accessibility off Highway 401 via the Bloomfield Road exit.
The consultant also recommended that the hotel should be three or four stories and include a fitness centre, breakfast room, and a meeting space.
"This site, which is municipally-owned, possesses sufficient parking and existing infrastructure, immediate proximity to the Convention Centre as well as other retail, service and entertainment amenities, makes it an attractive location for future hotel development," staff wrote in the report.
According to the staff report, the hotel would require a total gross square footage of about 35,000 sq. ft. or 440 sq. ft. per room, requiring approximately 1.5-1.75 acres of land.
