Promise Hotels, Ross Group Break Ground on Holiday Inn Express and Conference Center in Claremore

By Gabriel Circiog, Associate Editor

Tulsa-based Promise Hotels and The Ross Group recently started work on their fifth joint-venture project, a new Holiday Inn Express and conference center in Claremore. Project and city officials attended a ground breaking ceremony at 1400 West Country Club Lane.

Tulsa World reports the $7.5 million adaptive reuse project of the former Thunder Bowl will feature an 80-room Holiday Inn Express and a 15,000-square-foot conference center. The city has approved a $675,000 tax-increment financing district to help finance the $1.5 million convention center, according to City Manager Jim Thomas.

City officials and the business community advocate the development of additional hotels and convention space so that Claremore can compete more effectively for business meetings and other events. The new facilities are also expected to attract more restaurants and help diversify the local economy.

The new conference center will offer nearly 8,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and the banquet hall will have a capacity of 420. According to Paresh Patel, president and CEO of Promise Hotels, the new hotel and convention center will create up to 35 jobs. The project is expected to open next March.

In other development news, KOCO Oklahoma City reports that the Central Edmond Urban Development Board recently approved construction of a 15,000-square-foot mixed-use building at 108 North Broadway. According to Edmond City Planner Jan Fees, the new construction will feature retail on the ground floor and office space on the top floor. Approval by the Edmond City Council is pending.

Rendering Courtesy of www.promisehotels.com