Full-service Delta hotel open for business in downtown Wichita Falls
After years of anticipation, a new full-service hotel opened its doors Wednesday in Wichita Falls next to the multi-purpose events center.
Plans for the hotel have been in the works for more than six years. In 2018, the city identified development of downtown as one of their top five goals. One objective toward this goal was the construction of this hotel. The convention and visitors bureau stressed that a full-service hotel is necessary in the city, next to a convention center, in order to attract large events and build momentum for growth in and around the downtown area.
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Some delays occurred along the way, mostly related to the COVID pandemic, but once the hotel broke ground two years ago, construction ran smoothly for the most part. An opening date was planned for July 2023, just in time for the year's Hotter'N Hell Hundred bike ride, but had to be pushed back a couple months.
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The Delta by Marriott has 200 guest rooms and cost about $48 million at last estimate. Cost for construction of the hotel is paid by O'Reilly Hospitality of Springfield, Missouri. The city's 4B Sales Tax Corporation agreed to a $2 million forgivable loan for O'Reilly and other incentives in exchange for the creation of approximately 116 jobs.
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An adjoining $19 million, 12,000-square foot conference center and banquet facility was paid for by the city of Wichita Falls, but was built and will by managed by O'Reilly.
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Prior to the agreement with O'Reilly, the city planned in 2016 on working with financing partner Gatehouse Capital Corp. and the hotel brand was going to be a Hilton Doubletree. While working with Gatehouse, it was decided that they would be aiming for a Delta by Marriott instead. The city later ended negotiations with Gatehouse when they could not secure financing and the city then partnered with O'Reilly in 2018.
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City leaders have expressed that the new hotel and center may lure in more visitors and conventions, leading to higher sales tax receipts and hotel occupancy tax dollars that can perhaps offset the $200,000 to $300,000 subsidy the city now pays for the operation of facilities at the MPEC.
O'Reilly CEO Tim O'Reilly has expressed that a long-term vision includes a smaller hotel in this same area that would cost about $13-15 million.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Full-service Delta hotel open for business in downtown Wichita Falls
