Government
BY VANESSA HOLT
Data: The Woodlands could add 2 more hotels
The Woodlands Township could support another two hotels—including an “upper- upscale” luxury hotel—to keep more hotel and convention business in the township borders, according to a report presented at the Jan. 22 board of directors meeting. The Woodlands lost $175 million from potential business leads for hotel room nights for 2021-30, mostly in 2023-25, according to the report. The Woodlands currently has 2,254 hotel rooms, of which about 1,300 are full-service with restaurant and meeting or event space. The remainder
are select-service, or smaller hotels, said Chris Cylke, president and chief operating officer of REVPAR International, the consulting firm that conducted the study. Another 180 to 360 rooms could be added to The Woodlands market without impacting the existing hotel base, Cylke said. “A lot of these consumers would like to stay in the market, but there isn’t availability,” Cylke said. Together, those new hotels could bring an additional $1.9 million-$3.4 million in tax revenue for the township, according to the report.
Recommended hotel supply A study shows what new hotels The Woodlands could accommodate.
Full-service, upper-upscale luxury
Upscale branded hotel
Rooms
Meeting space (square feet)
0
50
100
150
200 250
0
5K
10K
15K
20K
175
225
10K
20K
125
175
4K
6K
SOURCE: REVPAR INTERNATIONAL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The context
“It’s hit a stagnant ... nothing’s happening,” said Brad Bailey, chair of The Woodlands Township board of directors. Township President and CEO Monique Sharp said the deadline for that project was 2028 for the first phase and 2030 for the second phase. No action was taken at the meeting. “We [have to] go recruit developers with this data in hand,” Bailey said.
This is not the first time the township has discussed bringing two new hotels into its limits. In early 2023, The Woodlands Mall managers, Brookfield Properties, outlined a proposal for an expansion that would bring two new hotels, as well as retail and restaurant space, to the mall. However, despite economic development incentives, that plan has not advanced beyond the discussion stage, officials said.
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION
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