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Council to consider hiring consultant for hotel market feasibility study
Summary
City staff recommended contracting Core Distinction Group to produce a hotel market feasibility study, including a diagnostic review of local and adjacent-community hotels and possible recommendations on locations and room counts; council expected to act at a regular meeting.
City staff told the Marion City Council that they will recommend hiring Core Distinction Group to perform a hotel market feasibility study and said the proposal would appear on the councils consent or regular agenda later in the week.
Staff said two proposals were received in response to an RFP; one proposal lacked requested supporting documentation and the other (Core Distinction Group) offered an on-site, interview-based approach that staff preferred. The consultants scope would examine citywide and adjacent-community supply and demand, review existing local hotels, assess the need for additional hotel rooms, and recommend potential locations and room counts.
Staff noted the scope can proceed in phases: if the diagnostic work shows no market support for additional hotels, the consultant would stop and bill only for the diagnostic phase. Staff initially proposed a contract not to exceed $17,500 and said the study may be completed in late February if scheduling and interviews proceed rapidly.
Why it matters: A market feasibility study would give council and potential developers data-driven analysis to support hotel investment decisions and investor conversations.
Next steps: Council will consider awarding the contract at the next regular meeting; staff said they would coordinate interviews with local developers, MEDCO and Chamber partners to support the study.
