Downtown Little Rock Hotels ride library's coattails.
DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK hotels reported record revenue in the first full year the Clinton Presidential Library has been open.Last year the state's highest-grossing hotel, The Peabody Little Rock, reported nearly $17 million in revenue, a 22 percent increase from the previous year, according to local tax receipts.
Other hotels within walking or trolley distance of the library also reported huge revenue jumps. The DoubleTree Hotel grossed $8 million in 2005, a 20 percent increase from 2004. The Holiday Inn Presidential Conference Center downtown, though outside the popular River Market District, also increased its revenue by 20 percent in 2005.
The 120-room Courtyard by Marriott Downtown, which boasts the closest lodging to the library, was the state's 14th-highest-grossing hotel in only its first full year of business. The hotel, part of the 14-story First Security Building on President Clinton Avenue, grossed $3.9 million and posted an impressive $32,000 per room.
Indeed, many local hoteliers praise the good fortune--and more than 500,000 visitors in its first 12 months--the library has brought.
"The Clinton Presidential Library has had an enormous, positive impact on tourism to Little Rock," Todd Scholl, director of sales and marketing at The Peabody Little Rock, said last month.
Overall, demand for Little Rock hotel rooms was 12 percent higher last year than it was in 2004 and about 7 percent higher than in 2000, the year before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to Smith Travel Research of Hendersonville, Tenn.
The Hilton Inn Little Rock Metro Center is yet another success story in the capital city. After a $23 million renovation in 2004, the 265-room hotel reported revenue of $6.4 million in 2005, good enough for No. 7 in the state.
Another high-grossing hotel in Little Rock, The Capital Hotel downtown, began a renovation of its own in November and will remain closed until this summer. Though the Stephens Group Inc., which owns the historic hotel, has not released the total costs for the renovations, the project is expected to cost more than $5 million.
Outside Little Rock, a handful of sizeable hotel construction projects are in the works. A $17 million DoubleTree hotel is being built in Bentonville, along with a $10 million Courtyard by Marriott in Fort Smith, a $7.4 million Simmons Suites in Bentonville and a $6 million Country Inn & Suites in Rogers
But the biggest ongoing hotel project of them all is a 152-room Embassy Suites in Rogers that will be part of the $19 million, 125,000-SF John Q. Hammons Center. The project, which will feature a 42,000-SF ballroom that could seat up to 3,000, is expected to be complete in the third quarter this year.
The hotel magnate has five other locations in Arkansas, three of which fared quite well in 2005. Embassy Suites Hot Springs boosted its revenue by 26 percent to $6.1 million in 2005, while the Little Rock and Rogers Embassy Suites increased theirs by 18 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
Hammons' two Springdale hotels, the Hampton Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Northwest Arkansas, each decreased their revenue, by 6 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
Springdale as a whole reported a 6 percent increase to $17.9 million in hotel receipts from 2004. Rogers, however, saw the most growth in the region, with a 10 percent year-over-year increase in receipts to $19.6 million.
Meanwhile Bentonville increased its total receipts by 8 percent to $18.3 million. And Fayetteville reported a modest 4.5 percent increase to $11.4 million.
Highest-Grossing Hotels Ranked by total revenue for 2005 Hotels Web Site Address Phone, Fax 1 The Peabody Little Rock www.peabodylittlerock.com 3 Statehouse Plaza, (501) 906-4000, (501) 375-7320 Little Rock 72201 2 Embassy Suites www.embassysuiteslittlerock.com 11301 Financial Centre Parkway, (501) 312-9000, (501) 312-9455 Little Rock 72211 3 Wyndham Riverfront www.wyndham.com 2 Riverfront Place, (501) 371-9000, (501) 907-4800 North Little Rock 72114 4 Embassy Suites Northwest www.embassysuitesnwa.com Arkansas (479) 254-8400, (479) 845-2001 3303 Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers 72758 5 Double Tree Hotel www.littlerock.doubletree.com 424 W. Markham St., (501) 372-4371, (501) 372-0518 Little Rock 72201 6 Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa www.arlingtonhotel.com 239 Central Ave., (501) 623-7771, (501) 623-2243 Hot Springs 71901 7 Hilton Inn Little www.hilton.com Rock Metro Center (501) 664-5020, (501) 614-3803 925 S. University Ave., Little Rock 72204 8 Embassy Suites Hot Springs www.embassysuiteshotsprings.com 400 Convetion Blvd., (501) 624-9200, (501) 624-3225 Hot Springs 71901 9 Holiday Inn Select (501) 223-3000, (501) 537-2334 201 Holiday S. Shackleford Rd., www.selectlittlerock.com Little Rock 72211 10 Holiday Inn Little Rock www.holiday-inn.com 3201 Holiday Bankhead Drive, (501) 490-1000, (501) 490-2029 Little Rock 72206 11 Hampton Inn www.hampton-inn.com/hi/ftsmith 6201-C Rogers Ave., (479) 452-2000, (479) 452-6668 Fort Smith 72903 12 Inn Holiday Northwest Arkansas www.holidayinnnwa.com 1500 S. 48th St., (479) 751-8300, (479) 751-4640 Springdale 72764 13 The Capital Hotel1 (1) www.thecapitalhotel.com 111 W. Markham St., (501) 374-7474, (501) 370-7091 Little Rock 72201 14 Courtyard by Marriott Downtown www.marriott.com/LITDT 521 President Clinton Ave., (501) 975-9800, (501) 975-9801 Little Rock 72201 15 Holiday Inn City Center www.holiday-inn.com/ftsmithar 700 Rogers Ave., (479) 783-1000, (479) 783-0312 Fort Smith 72901 16 Best Western Inn of the Ozarks www.innoftheozarks.com U.S. Highway 62 W., (800) 814-8307, (800) 814-8307 Eureka Springs 72632 17 Hilton Garden Inn www.bentonville.gardeninn.com 2204 S.E. Walton Blvd., (479) 464-7300, (479) 464-7377 Bentonville 72712 18 Hampton Inn & Suites www.littlerocksuites.com 1301 S. Shackleford Road, (501) 537-3000, (501) 537-7070 Little Rock 72211 19 Courtyard by Marriott Little www.cylittlerock.com Rock (501) 227-6000, (501) 227-6912 10900 Financial Centre Parkway, Little Rock 72211 20 Holiday Inn Presidential www.hipresidential.com Conference Center (501) 375-2100, (501) 374-9045 600 Interstate 30, Little Rock 72202 21 Holiday Inn Express www.holiday-inn.com 3121 Holiday Bankhead Drive, (501) 490-4000, (501) 490-0423 Little Rock 72206 22 Hampton Inn www.hamptoninn.com/hi/ 4501 W. Walnut St., Rogers bentonville-rogers 72756 (479 986-0500, (479) 986-9696 23 Austin Hotel & Convention www.theaustinhotel.com Center (501) 623-6600, (501) 624-7160 305 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs 71901 24 Clarion Resort on the Lake www.clariononthelake.com 4813 Central Ave., (501) 525-1391, (501) 525-0813 Hot Springs 71913 25 Comfort Inn & Suites www.comfortinnlittlerock.com 707 Interstate 30, (501) 687-7700, (501) 687-1016 Little Rock 72202 26 Inn Holiday Northwest Arkansas www.holiday-inn.com 3006 $. Caraway Road, (870) 935-2030, (870) 935-3440 Jonesboro 72401 27 Hampton Inn & Suites www.hamptoninnspringdale.com 1700 S. 48th St., Springdale (479) 756-3500, (479) 927-3500 72756 28 Courtyand by Marriott www.marriott.com 1001 McClain by Road, (479) 273-3333, (479) 273-3877 Bentonville 72712 29 Hampton Inn www.hampton.com 3103 E. Market St., (870) 850-0444, (870) 850-0606 Pine Bluff 71601 30 Radisson Hotel Fayetteville www.radison.com/fayettevillear 70 N. East Ave., Fayetteville (479) 442-2105 (479) 442-5555, 72701 31 Bentonville Clarion Hotel & www.clarionhotel.com Convention Center (479) 464-4204, (479) 464-4600 211 S.E. Walton Blvd., Bentonville 72712 32 Residence Inn Rogers www.marrioft.com 4611 W. Locust St., Rogers (479) 636-5900, (479) 636-5991 72756 33 Residence Inn Little Rock www.marriott.com 1401 South Shackleford Road, (501) 312-0200, (501) 219-2524 Little Rock 72211 34 Holiday Inn Express www.hiexpress.com 2407 Fillips Drive, Jonesboro (870) 932-5554, (870) 932-2586 72401 35 Fairfield Inn & Suites www.marriott.com 4611 W. Rozell St., Rogers (479) 872-9100, (479) 936-5901 72756 36 Majestic Hotel Resort Spa www.themajestichotel.com 011 Park Ave., Hot Springs (501) 623-5511, (501) 624-4737 71901 37 Residence Inn Fort Smith www.marriott.com 3005 South 74th St., Fort Smith (479) 478-8300, (479) 478-8302 72903 38 Comfort Inn & Suites www.comfortinn.com 3627 Central Ave., Hot Springs (501) 623-1700, (501) 623-1876 71913 39 Crescent Hotel & Spa www.crescent-hotel.com 75 Prospect Ave., (479) 253-9766, (479) 253-5296 Eureka Springs 72632 40 Holiday Inn Express www.hiexpress.com/pinebluffar 3620 Camden Road, Pine Bluff (870) 879-3800, (870) 879-0070 71603 Hotels Revenue Address Revenue Per Room The Peabody Little Rock $16,951,318 3 Statehouse Plaza, $40,553 Little Rock 72201 Embassy Suites $9,853,912 11301 Financial Centre Parkway, $39,259 Little Rock 72211 Wyndham Riverfront 8,658,000 2 Riverfront Place, $39,176 North Little Rock 72114 Embassy Suites Northwest $8,217,926 Arkansas $33,137 3303 Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers 72758 Double Tree Hotel $8,061,195 424 W. Markham St., $28,088 Little Rock 72201 Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa $6,471,156 239 Central Ave., $13,370 Hot Springs 71901 Hilton Inn Little $6,355,928 Rock Metro Center $23,985 925 S. University Ave., Little Rock 72204 Embassy Suites Hot Springs $6,084,538 400 Convetion Blvd., $24,734 Hot Springs 71901 Holiday Inn Select $6,035,297 201 Holiday S. Shackleford Rd., $23,668 Little Rock 72211 Holiday Inn Little Rock $4,481,578 3201 Holiday Bankhead Drive, $21,341 Little Rock 72206 Hampton Inn $4,085,139 6201-C Rogers Ave., $22,950 Fort Smith 72903 Inn Holiday Northwest Arkansas $4,013,030 1500 S. 48th St., $19,481 Springdale 72764 The Capital Hotel1 (1) $3,925,520 111 W. Markham St., $31,915 Little Rock 72201 Courtyard by Marriott Downtown $3,861,097 521 President Clinton Ave., $32,176 Little Rock 72201 Holiday Inn City Center $3,537,197 700 Rogers Ave., $13,871 Fort Smith 72901 Best Western Inn of the Ozarks $3,515,550 U.S. Highway 62 W., $28,816 Eureka Springs 72632 Hilton Garden Inn $3,491,700 2204 S.E. Walton Blvd., $26,253 Bentonville 72712 Hampton Inn & Suites $3,226,855 1301 S. Shackleford Road, $25,610 Little Rock 72211 Courtyard by Marriott Little $3,221,277 Rock $23,513 10900 Financial Centre Parkway, Little Rock 72211 Holiday Inn Presidential $3,197,461 Conference Center $19,860 600 Interstate 30, Little Rock 72202 Holiday Inn Express $3,007,599 3121 Holiday Bankhead Drive, $15,038 Little Rock 72206 Hampton Inn $2,840,209 4501 W. Walnut St., Rogers $23,280 72756 Austin Hotel & Convention $2,415,486 Center $12,324 305 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs 71901 Clarion Resort on the Lake $2,392,967 4813 Central Ave., $16,060 Hot Springs 71913 Comfort Inn & Suites $2,363,666 707 Interstate 30, $15,758 Little Rock 72202 Inn Holiday Northwest Arkansas $2,173,656 3006 $. Caraway Road, $12,143 Jonesboro 72401 Hampton Inn & Suites $2,167,760 1700 S. 48th St., Springdale $21,253 72756 Courtyand by Marriott $2,122,134 1001 McClain by Road, $23,579 Bentonville 72712 Hampton Inn $2,098,500 3103 E. Market St., $19,252 Pine Bluff 71601 Radisson Hotel Fayetteville $2,035,048 70 N. East Ave., Fayetteville $7,981 72701 Bentonville Clarion Hotel & $1,969,642 Convention Center $18,758 211 S.E. Walton Blvd., Bentonville 72712 Residence Inn Rogers $1,950,404 (2) 4611 W. Locust St., Rogers 22,164 (2) 72756 Residence Inn Little Rock $1,789,153 1401 South Shackleford Road, $18,637 Little Rock 72211 Holiday Inn Express $1,729,835 2407 Fillips Drive, Jonesboro $16,795 72401 Fairfield Inn & Suites $1,696,926 (2) 4611 W. Rozell St., Rogers $17,141 (2) 72756 Majestic Hotel Resort Spa 1,679,029 011 Park Ave., Hot Springs $6,533 71901 Residence Inn Fort Smith $1,673,874 3005 South 74th St., Fort Smith $21,460 72903 Comfort Inn & Suites $1,672,767 3627 Central Ave., Hot Springs $20,154 71913 Crescent Hotel & Spa $1,670,950 75 Prospect Ave., $23,208 Eureka Springs 72632 Holiday Inn Express $1,666,088 3620 Camden Road, Pine Bluff $24,867 71603 Guest Rooms Rack Rate Hotels (including Minimum Address suites Maximum The Peabody Little Rock 418 $109 3 Statehouse Plaza, $189 Little Rock 72201 Embassy Suites 251 NA 11301 Financial Centre Parkway, $189 Little Rock 72211 Wyndham Riverfront 221 NA 2 Riverfront Place, NA North Little Rock 72114 Embassy Suites Northwest 248 $109 Arkansas $209 3303 Pinnacle Hills Parkway, Rogers 72758 Double Tree Hotel 287 NA 424 W. Markham St., NA Little Rock 72201 Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa 484 $78 239 Central Ave., $128 Hot Springs 71901 Hilton Inn Little 265 NA Rock Metro Center NA 925 S. University Ave., Little Rock 72204 Embassy Suites Hot Springs 246 $129 400 Convetion Blvd., $149 Hot Springs 71901 Holiday Inn Select 255 $99 201 Holiday S. Shackleford Rd., $299 Little Rock 72211 Holiday Inn Little Rock 210 $72 3201 Holiday Bankhead Drive, $104 Little Rock 72206 Hampton Inn 178 $80 6201-C Rogers Ave., $160 Fort Smith 72903 Inn Holiday Northwest Arkansas 206 $79 1500 S. 48th St., $169 Springdale 72764 The Capital Hotel1 (1) 123 178 111 W. Markham St., $209 Little Rock 72201 Courtyard by Marriott Downtown 120 $89 521 President Clinton Ave., $159 Little Rock 72201 Holiday Inn City Center 255 $80 700 Rogers Ave., $265 Fort Smith 72901 Best Western Inn of the Ozarks 122 $49 U.S. Highway 62 W., $109 Eureka Springs 72632 Hilton Garden Inn 133 $49 2204 S.E. Walton Blvd., $155 Bentonville 72712 Hampton Inn & Suites 126 $99 1301 S. Shackleford Road, $139 Little Rock 72211 Courtyard by Marriott Little 137 $129 Rock $159 10900 Financial Centre Parkway, Little Rock 72211 Holiday Inn Presidential 161 $84 Conference Center $130 600 Interstate 30, Little Rock 72202 Holiday Inn Express 200 $60 3121 Holiday Bankhead Drive, $84 Little Rock 72206 Hampton Inn 122 NA 4501 W. Walnut St., Rogers NA 72756 Austin Hotel & Convention 196 $80 Center $95 305 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs 71901 Clarion Resort on the Lake 149 NA 4813 Central Ave., NA Hot Springs 71913 Comfort Inn & Suites 150 $60 707 Interstate 30, $129 Little Rock 72202 Inn Holiday Northwest Arkansas 179 NA 3006 $. Caraway Road, NA Jonesboro 72401 Hampton Inn & Suites 102 $65 1700 S. 48th St., Springdale $135 72756 Courtyand by Marriott 90 NA 1001 McClain by Road, NA Bentonville 72712 Hampton Inn 109 NA 3103 E. Market St., NA Pine Bluff 71601 Radisson Hotel Fayetteville 255 123 70 N. East Ave., Fayetteville 159 72701 Bentonville Clarion Hotel & 105 69 Convention Center 169 211 S.E. Walton Blvd., Bentonville 72712 Residence Inn Rogers 88 NA 4611 W. Locust St., Rogers $129 72756 Residence Inn Little Rock 96 NA 1401 South Shackleford Road, NA Little Rock 72211 Holiday Inn Express 103 73 2407 Fillips Drive, Jonesboro 99 72401 Fairfield Inn & Suites 99 59 4611 W. Rozell St., Rogers 99 72756 Majestic Hotel Resort Spa 257 NA 011 Park Ave., Hot Springs NA 71901 Residence Inn Fort Smith 78 NA 3005 South 74th St., Fort Smith NA 72903 Comfort Inn & Suites 83 NA 3627 Central Ave., Hot Springs NA 71913 Crescent Hotel & Spa 72 $129 75 Prospect Ave., $169 Eureka Springs 72632 Holiday Inn Express 67 NA 3620 Camden Road, Pine Bluff NA 71603 (1) Closed from November 2005 until summer 2006 (2) Does not include December 2005 Sources: Advertising & Promotions Commissions in Bentonville Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Hot Springs and Rogers; Convention & Visitors Bureaus in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Fort Smith and Pine Muffs; City of Jonesboro; Springdale City Clerk's Office; and 2006 Special Events and Meeting Planner. Revenue per room calculated by dividing gross revenue by number of rooms. Revenue data is for calendar year 2005, except in Fayetteville, where data is for December 2004-November 2005.
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| Author: | Taulbee, Chip |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Arkansas Business |
| Date: | Mar 6, 2006 |
| Words: | 2326 |
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