Hotel and conference center project update

The Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, City of Kokomo and Howard County announce that the development of a hotel and conference center in downtown Kokomo is progressing.

The Alliance is working with Dora Hotel Co. LLC, an Indiana hotel management firm run by owner Tim Dora.

The project is a partnership between the Greater Kokomo Visitors Bureau, the City of Kokomo, Howard County and the Alliance.

Branded as a Hilton Garden Inn, the hotel is expected to have 123 guestrooms. The project is slated to be constructed in the block between Main and Union streets, bordered by Superior Street to the north and Wildcat Creek to the south. Some preparation was previously completed at the site.

The hotel property will be owned and operated by Dora Hotel Company, which oversees 20-plus properties throughout Indiana.

“We develop awesome hotels that are creatively designed, meticulously maintained and sparkling clean,” Dora said. “We are excited to bring this project to Kokomo and grateful to our partners for making this possible.”

Local elected officials are also excited to see the project continue to take shape.

“Needless to say, we are excited to see the momentum for this project continue to grow as its need is ever-expanding in Kokomo,” Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore said. “This will be the next major piece of completing the economic development puzzle for downtown. The impact of this new hotel and conference center will be felt not only throughout Kokomo but in the surrounding North Central Indiana region as well.”

Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman said, “We could not be more exited for this transformational project representing years of work and strong partnerships. Thousands of people each year will now have the opportunity to come to our community and experience all that is great about Kokomo and Howard County.”

First announced in 2017, the project has cleared a number of hurdles to reach this point. Lori Dukes, President and CEO of the Alliance, said she believes that the commitment to see it to fruition shows the true need for the development.

“We believe the economic impact from this development will benefit not just the downtown area but support positive economic impact in the entire community including attractions, restaurants, shops, etc.,” Dukes said.

The development of a conference center will add to the community’s current visitor travel, creating a pipeline that brings new visitors and visitor spending into Howard County through the growth of meeting and conference activity. It will also increase the demand for lodging in the region.