PERRY, Ga. — Construction is well underway on a new hotel at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, promising to enhance tourism and bring significant economic benefits to the Perry area.
The $30 million project, which began at the end of 2023, will feature two Marriott brands—Fairfield and TownePlace Suites—under one roof.
Set to open in the summer of 2025, the 129-key hotel will include 66 rooms under TownePlace Suites and 63 rooms under Fairfield. Amenities will feature a pool, fitness center, guest laundry, bar and restaurant.
An air-conditioned corridor will connect the hotel to the Miller Murphy Howard Center, providing convenience for guests attending events at the Fairgrounds.
“They have poured the foundation, they framed the first floor, and now they are working on the second floor right now,” Maggie Lane, chief marketing officer at the Fairgrounds, said. “Not only will it offer top-notch amenities for our visitors, but it will also have a significant economic impact on the community. ”
The Fairgrounds host over 200 events annually, attracting nearly one million visitors each year. The new hotel's management said they aim to accommodate this influx of visitors, providing a convenient lodging option that is expected to draw even more people to the area.
Its location near Interstate 75, which sees a daily traffic count of around 65,000, is anticipated to increase its appeal further.
“We have an incredible need in this area for more accommodation,” Lane said. “The interstate offers a lot of travel, and the Fairgrounds is a huge generator of tourism in the area.”
The project was originally announced in 2021 but only began construction recently. Local officials and community members are enthusiastic about the hotel's potential benefits.
"It's gonna be a gorgeous hotel that I anticipate people, locally, will want to spend time at just as much as all of our visitors from around the southeast and the nation,” Lane said.
According to a University of Georgia economic impact report from 2022, the Fairgrounds were responsible for generating $130 million in revenue from goods and services.
The addition of the hotel is expected to boost this number significantly. J.J. Singh, president of the ownership group Retreat Hotels and Resorts, estimated that the hotel would bring in $6 million annually once it opens.
“The goal is to attract more shows and more visitors to the area to grow the fairgrounds, to grow Perry, and Houston County, and Middle Georgia as a whole,” Lane said.
With construction progressing, leaders say the community eagerly anticipates the hotel's completion and the many benefits it will bring to Perry and the surrounding areas.