A new $18 million hotel was approved Wednesday by the City Council, and the West Cal Arena executive director said it has the potential to bring in more revenue during the city’s “busier times.”

Adrian Moreno said revenue generated from the hotel/motel tax probably won’t increase other than the city’s busier times of the year.

“I don’t want to say that (revenue) will definitely increase because it could just spread the rooms around. I don’t think it would be fair to say that adding another hotel would add that many more tax dollars,” he said. “But during our busier times of the year having additional rooms in this area could benefit us. Sometimes when you add additional rooms it just doesn’t mean everything doubles, but during busy times, with ball tournaments and then when the industries pick up, having more hotel rooms available will definitely benefit us.”

The hotel, Home2 Suites by Hilton, will be located on Arena Road west of Holiday Inn Express.

Moreno said the West Cal Arena receives “almost all” of the 4 percent state tax that’s collected from hotels and motels in Wards 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Patrick Quinn, hotel project manager, said the demand drivers for another hotel in Sulphur were there.

“Between the industries that are here, new developments planned, the tremendous amount of leisure business that comes to the area with the ball clubs and amateur athletics, the arena and the new civic center made this an ideal location,” he said. “This location is in the middle of the whole mix and right off of Interstate 10.”

Quinn said plans for the hotel are to begin construction within the next three months and have the project complete by June 2014.

The hotel will also bring 40 to 50 new jobs to West Calcasieu, Quinn said.

(American Press Archives)

Brad Puckett