More than 50 people from the City, Chamber of Commerce, business community and general public gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony signaling construction of the multimillion Hilton Garden Inn Hotel.
The 100-room multistory hotel will be at the intersection of Montezuma and Sheldon streets.
Owner and developer Steve Shumway and his family from Show Low opened the June 11 event by praising the cooperative attitude of the greater Prescott community.
He described the future hotel as having contemporary features. He also pointed out the hotel will connect to the historic Sam Hill Warehouse via a century-old railway trestle. The old warehouse belonged to Prescott College before being sold to the Shumways. It will be converted to a conference center.
Dennis Porter, President Porter Brothers Construction, Gilbert, is in charge of hotel construction. Porter said he and his team were purchasing supplies and materials locally as much as possible to support the Prescott economy. He noted he already had hired two local firms and other subcontractors.
Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli welcomed Shumway, his wife Heidi and parents Doug and Dixie Shumway to Prescott. Mengarelli praised the public and private partnerships that occurred to support the project. “All of this region will benefit economically and hospitalitywise from this development,” he said. He noted that Arizona Public Service and Prescott College were particularly supportive.
The City of Prescott hired consulting firm Applied Consultants to conduct an economic impact study to project potential economic benefits that would result from construction and operation of the hotel and adjacent facilities. That report estimated the annual economic impact would be in the range of almost $18 million a year. Over a 10-year period, that impact could reach $180 million.
