Jan. 31–PASCAGOULA — A new Hilton Garden Inn will open its doors soon in Pascagoula.
The $25 million hotel on U.S. 90 near Singing River Hospital is on the site of the old LaFont Inn. In addition to 119 rooms, it contains 6,000 square feet of conference space, a restaurant and bar, pool, jacuzzi and fitness center.
Pascagoula City Manager Joe Huffman said the city is going to see a lot of economic benefits from this project. He said not only will this hotel bring conference space and jobs to the area, but it will also help the city move forward on recreation improvements.
A 2 percent room-occupancy tax is earmarked for such upgrades, so these new rooms will generate more revenue for recreation, he said.
“This is our chance to improve recreation as part of our master plan,” he said.
Carla Todd, CEO of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, said the Hilton Garden Inn is now a chamber member and will be very beneficial to Pascagoula.
“We get a lot of business travel and this will be large enough to accommodate groups of people,” she said.
She said the conference space is vital because meeting space is limited in the area.
“I think they’re going to be a great community partner,” Todd said.
George Coolbaugh, regional director of operations of Innisfree Hotels, said the city has been very receptive to the new project.
Industries had sent their visitors to other cities in the area for overnight stays, and now that business will remain in Pascagoula, Coolbaugh said.
“It’s going to be the place to go in Pascagoula,” Coolbaugh said. “We’re super-excited to be there and we thinks it’s going to be busy all the time.”
Construction began in October 2012.
