Aug. 19–Elected officials and business leaders will celebrate the groundbreaking for two new hotels in Hillsboro on Wednesday, a long-awaited development on a project that city planners call a potential landmark for the city.
Construction crews are already working on the site, a 4.19-acre vacant field tucked amid office buildings adjacent to U.S. 26, north of Northwest Evergreen Parkway.
Once completed, the hotels will be high-profile buildings along the Sunset Highway. But more immediately, they add coveted meeting space for Hillsboro’s business community and arrive at a time when hotel rooms are in high-demand, leading to higher rates for customers.
The seven-story, 165-room Embassy Suites and four-story, 106-room Hampton Inn & Suites are a long-time coming. Former project developer Inn Ventures said it was close to breaking ground on the hotels on two occasions, in 2008 and 2012.
Salt Lake City-area developer Western States Lodging bought the property, hotel development plans and land use documents from Inn Ventures for $6 million, according to Gary Griffiths, a principal with the company.
The Embassy Suites includes 3,200 square feet of meeting space while the Hampton will have 600 square feet of space, according to the company.
Griffiths is expected to speak at the groundbreaking event today from 11 a.m. to noon, as is Council President Aron Carleson.
The Embassy Suites is a “full-service” hotel, with a full restaurant and room service.
The hotels are located at 19999 N.W. Tanasbourne Drive in Hillsboro.
— Andrew Theen
