Excitement Builds for Conroe Hotel and Convention Center

Conroe’s steady growth has led the City to explore unique opportunities that maximize available land and cater to a diversifying economy. One of the most exciting projects, a hotel and convention center located in Grand Central Park, continues to progress. Located on 7.55 acres directly west of the brand-new Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, City leaders expect the project to break ground by the end of the year and be completed by May 2022.

“Bringing a premier hotel and convention center to Conroe shows how the City is thriving. This development is a natural fit in the City’s growth process,” offered Steve Williams, Assistant City Administrator and Chief Financial Officer. “There is also a real need for this type of product. Conroe’s strategic location and connectivity to Houston make the project a perfect fit here.”

Currently in the design phase, the full-service, upper-upscale hotel and attached convention center will have amenities to serve business and leisure travelers. The hotel will have 252 rooms in its initial phase. The convention center will be 43,000 square-feet of convention space, consisting of a 15,000 square-foot main ballroom, an 8,000 square-foot junior ballroom, pre-function areas, and numerous breakout rooms accommodating meetings of all sizes.

The economic impact of the hotel and convention center is expected to be substantial. Hundreds of construction jobs will be generated to complete the project. Once completed, more than 300 more jobs will be filled to fully operate the hotel and convention center. Beyond jobs and investment tied directly to this project, the City expects it to spur economic success.

“The hotel project is going to be a catalyst for development. We expect to see property adjacent and near the hotel and convention center to become popular for commercial growth,” said Williams.

Conroe citizens and local stakeholders are anxious to learn which hotel brand will be attached to the new property. While the brand has not been announced, City leaders promise that its name will speak to the significance of the project.

“The hotel flag will be a big name that everyone knows. Additionally, the hotel is going to be a part of their top-tier product line.” said Williams.

The convention center will be owned by the City of Conroe and the hotel will be owned by the Conroe Local Government Corporation. Created by the City of Conroe to serve as a conduit for issuing the bonds, the Conroe Local Government Corporation will contract with the hotel brand. The hotel brand will then take full responsibility of operating the hotel and convention center.

“We feel it is the ideal arrangement to contract with the hotel to allow them to be the operator,” offered Williams. “Their expertise in hospitality will be on full display.”

DPR Construction was recently awarded the design-build contract to serve as the general contractor. DPR has hired BOKA Powell to serve as the architect for the project. Garfield Public Private, which has been working with the City since 2017, is the project developer.