T-R PHOTO By MIKE DONAHEY The new, four-story, 93-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites opened recently. Located in the 2000 block of Iowa Avenue West, the facility features a business center, fitness center, indoor pool and more. Hawkeye Hotels, LLC, of Burlington is owner.

From Marshalltown Mayor Joel Greer to the Convention & Visitor Bureau’s Val Ruff to facility General Manager Sarah Miller, excitement was in the air with the recent opening of the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 102 Iowa Ave. W.

“As Marshalltown’s mayor, I am excited to have another hotel open for our growing group of guests and visitors,” Greer said. “For all of the regional conventions and tournaments hosted locally, it will be great to have another nice lodging option added to our list of good places to stay.”

Ruff, who has closely followed progress of the hotel since it broke ground in March, 2017, was thrilled.

“The Marshalltown Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomes the four-story, 93-unit Holiday Inn Express and Suites and we look forward to working with them!”

The facility offers a business center, fitness center, bistro and bar, indoor swimming pool, guest laundry, free-of-charge high-speed wireless Internet and large outdoor patio.

There are several rooms on each floor floor for the hearing-impaired.

Additionally, the swimming pool has a special lift to aid the disabled enter.

Marshall Economic Development, a unit of the Marshalltown Regional Partnership as is the C&VB, worked two years to bring the project to fruition.

The city of Marshalltown partnered by pledging $1 million in tax increment financing.

MED President Tom Deimerly and Hawkeye Hotels President Ravi Patel looked on during the Oct. 25, 2016 council meeting when the $1 million development agreement with Hawkeye Hotels was finalized by a 6-1 council vote and no public opposition.

Deimerly said the deal was structured differently from others during his tenure at MED, because Hawkeye Hotels had to buy more land to comply with Iowa Department of Natural Resources storm water guidelines.

Deimerly told the council previously Hawkeye Hotels saw Marshalltown as a strong business opportunity.

“Decision making criteria and data to proceed forward were based on long-term historical trends and anticipated future economic growth,” said Deimerly. “This is similar to our efforts in improving housing opportunities throughout the community, we tried to gather the decision making data before construction commenced.”

This is the first InterContinental Hotels Group property in Marshalltown and surrounding areas, the company said in a press release.

“We look to invest in communities where a new property will make a positive impact on residents’ lives and spur local economic development,” Om Patel, Director of Development for Hawkeye Hotels said. “Our new facility locally is a prime example. Building the first IHG property in Marshalltown is a proud step for our team — we look forward to serving the community, travelers, and all visitors in another great Iowa town.”

The hotel is expected to generate an estimated $200 million in job creation, spending, taxes, over a 20-year period according to the press release.

Additionally, the Holiday Inn will generate an estimated $125,000 to $150,000 from hotel-motel taxes Deimerly said.

The city and C&VB will benefit from those funds.

With $89.61 million dollars in estimated traveler expenditures, Marshall County ranked as the 16th most profitable county in the state in the U.S. Travel Association study “The Economic Impact of Travel on Iowa Counties 2016.” Trends have continued to indicate positive economic development in the region.

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites is expected to assist in business retention, Deimerly said.

In visits with existing employers he and team often heard requests for additional quality rooms for corporate travelers and business partners.

The hotel will be marketing to major employers JBS, Emerson Process Management/Fisher Controls, Iowa Veterans Home, Lennox Manufacturing, Marshalltown Co. and UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown among others.

Marshall County also remains popular as a business meeting location partially due to businesses and corporations that have two or more Iowa offices and require a central location to meet.

Founded in 1982 with one roadside hotel in Mena, Ark., Hawkeye Hotels has become one of the fastest-growing family-owned hospitality companies in the United States. The firm owns and operates more than 50 hotels across the country. Hawkeye Hotels employs more than 1,500 staff across its portfolio, and maintains lasting affiliations with leading brands, including Marriott, Hilton, InterContinental and Starwood.

For more information, contact Holiday inn Express & Suites, 641-854-2900, or visit the Marshalltown Convention & Visitors Bureau at marshalltown.org/visit/where-to-stay/hotel-motel/.

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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com