RISING hotel dollars
The city is expecting the Hyatt Regency to generate revenue through Conroe’s 7% hotel occupancy tax.
Conroe’s economy Yousse said in a May 2 email the hotel is expected to boost Conroe’s economy by creating jobs. Boothe said because it will be a full-service hotel, patrons can hold meetings, lodge and dine in one loca- tion. He said he believes out-of-town visitors will spend money on local retail, restaurants, fuel and nightlife as well, which supports local businesses. Voodoo Grille opened in November in Marcel Boulevard next to the Hyatt. Owner Scott Elias said as one of the first businesses in the area, he is eager for the business the hotel’s opening will bring. “We are definitely excited about the opening of the Hyatt, and we are look- ing forward to the rest of the commu- nity around us developing,” Elias said. “We are looking forward to more traffic being driven to the area.” Boothe said the project will also generate hotel occupancy tax, sales tax and mixed beverage tax revenue for the city. According to city budgets, HOT revenue has jumped 112.85% from fiscal year 2016-17 to FY 2021-22. Yousse said HOT revenue from the hotel was projected in 2020 to be $215,800 for FY 2022-23. Scott Harper, president of the
Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Com- merce, said he believes the hotel is a game changer because it compliments growth occurring in Grand Central Park and brings a new restaurant for residents to enjoy. “I think the Hyatt Regency will give another option [than the Marriott in The Woodlands], and I think hopefully some of the pricing [from other hotels] will stabilize,” Harper said. Harper said the Hyatt Regency also ensures visitors will have the option to stay in Conroe versus having to go to The Woodlands or Huntsville. “I don’t think it will hurt [the smaller hotels]; I think it will compliment them because, with the growth, it keeps peo- ple in Conroe,” Harper said. “There’s been times where there’s no available hotel rooms, so this gives more options locally, and keeping that within the Conroe service area is great.” Revising tourism in Conroe As the hotel nears its opening, Con- roe is shifting its visitors bureau. Overby—who worked for the CVB for nearly six years before her termination in April—said the visitors bureau was moved in April from City Hall’s fifth floor to the first floor. As such, she claimed the bureau staff was unable
KEY:
Actual
Estimated Projected
$3M
+112.85%
from FY 2016-17 to FY 2021-22
$2.5M
$2M
$1.5M
$1M
$0.5M
$0
SOURCE: CITY OF CONROE/COMMUNITY IMPACT Fiscal year
2019-20 2020-21 2017-18 2018-19 2021-22 2022-23 2016-17
to complete their jobs effectively due to being given the new responsibility of greeting guests who enter City Hall. Boothe said the city’s intent is for the first floor of City Hall to serve as the visitors center. The city previously discussed plans for the first floor, such as a visitors center, in February 2022, according to previous reporting.
“The first floor remodel design and construction are pending, but we are moving forward as quickly as possible,” Boothe said in an April 17 emailed statement.
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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