The City of Kokomo and the Dora Hotel Company announced the construction of a hotel and conference center in downtown. The Hilton Garden Inn will be six-stories with 123 room. The hotel will be connected to a new 22,000 square foot conference center. The conference center will also be the new home to the Kokomo Automotive Museum. The museum will take up the basement space of the conference center.
“This downtown development distinguishes Kokomo from most other Midwestern cities,” said Mayor Greg Goodnight. “The hotel and conference center will be in close proximity to other recent developments like Municipal Stadium and 306 Riverfront District.”
Developer Tim Dora of the Dora Hotel Company said Kokomo was an obvious choice for the new hotel.
“With the amount of investment and development that has already occurred here, we knew that Kokomo was the next place we should build,” Dora said.
The Dora Hotel Company operates hotels in multiple places around the Midwest, including Indianapolis, Carmel, Lafayette, Columbus and Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Charlie Sparks of the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance (GKEDA) said the impact of the local economy will be dramatic.
“We will see thousands of new visitors to the city each year,” Sparks said. “It creates a tremendous venue for conference and conventions with a great location.”
The project relied on the work of a multitude of groups, including The Great Kokomo Visitors Bureau, The Convention and Visitors Board, the Kokomo Common Council and Howard County government.
Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman said the Kokomo Automotive Museum will fit perfectly at the location.
“This will provide a great home for the museum for years to come,” Wyman said. “It comes as a result of partnerships between the private and public sector. It’s a big win for our community.”