First City Connection
INFORMATION FOR LEAVENWORTH’S RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES/ FALL 2015
City grades site in preparation for Home2 Suites The City hired contractors to complete final demolition at Third and Delaware streets, site of the former Ramada Inn. This demolition work includes removing the old building pad and asphalt parking, the trees along the sidewalk, replacing sidewalk damaged during tree removal and planting grass as an erosion control measure until the new property owner is ready to build. The work is being done as part of an economic development incentive package given to the new building developer, Equis Hospitality Management, and is paid for by the Tax-Increment financing in property taxes generated by the new hotel development. The demolition is similar to construction
that the City completed in preparation for the Fairfield Inn and Suites now open at the corner of Fourth and Metropolitan streets. Equis plans to build a Home2 Suites by Hilton Extended Stay hotel on this site. The new hotel will be the City’s third in recent years, with the opening of a Hampton Inn planned soon. Bringing overnight guests to Leavenworth hotels benefits the City by providing customers to shop at local businesses. Additionally, travellers staying in hotels pay a transient guest tax unless it’s a direct bill to the federal government. Tammie Ferguson, Convention and Visitors Bureau Manager, noted that the Fairfield Inn and Suites is booked full
almost throughout the year and the Hampton Inn and Extended Stay should have no trouble finding customers as well. Ferguson said that travellers expect a certain level of quality in hotels. “Today’s traveler has higher expectations for their accommodations because they have insight on what hotels can offer via travel reviews, blogs, social media and
other online content they consume.” she said. “They are more tech-savvy, eco-conscious, want to feel safe and secure, desire to include their furry friends in their travels and require high-quality customer service. Mediocre just won’t do anymore. Travelers would rather drive an extra 20 minutes to Kansas City to have their needs met rather than settle for mediocre lodging options.”
What is “Extended Stay?” Extended stay hotels simply means that guests intend to stay for a longer period of time. Developers showed pictures to Commissioners that show amenities such as kitchenettes in rooms and laundry facilities to better meet the needs of long-term hotel guests.
INSIDE:
• Leaf Program begins Nov. 2 PAGE 2 • State discusses Centennial Bridge PAGE 3
• Update on Street construction projects, PAGE 4 • CDBG funds to support sidewalk project PAGE 6