INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) Board voted to approve several contracts on Friday to officially move forward with building a new hotel connected to the Indianapolis International Airport.
The approval establishes the overall hotel project budget at $205,850,000 and ratified it for bond funding. The approved contracts also cover amendments to existing construction contracts, franchise agreements, operations management, and various other professional services, such as technology and interior design.
“This will be a long-term investment in public value for the community,” said Mario Rodriguez, IAA executive director. “The hotel will be the ‘front door to the front door’ of the airport, adding elegant architecture mirroring the world-class terminal and delivering a top customer experience that aligns with the airport’s reputation as the Best Airport in North America.”
The 253-room hotel will connect to the west side of the IND Terminal Parking Garage and will be a Marriott Westin brand. The hotel will feature a full-service three-meals/day restaurant and a seventh-floor bar/lounge/restaurant area with an airfield view open to the public, a fitness center, approximately 10,000 square feet of meeting space, dedicated parking with valet and a pedestrian passage through the hotel to the parking garage and terminal for airport employees and passengers. Additionally, the hotel will be built with an energy-efficient and sustainable design.
With approximately one-third of passengers flying out of the Indy airport before 9 a.m. and coming off record-breaking passenger traffic, this new hotel will give weary travelers a convenient overnight option to save time before their early morning flight with elevated amenities compared to a 45-minute to an hour drive.
The construction of the hotel is anticipated to create nearly 3,500 jobs.
“The hotel will be funded utilizing airport general revenue bonds, Marriott key money, and an airport equity investment,” said Robert Thomson, IAA board director of finance. He emphasized that no taxpayer dollars would be used to fund the project.
A groundbreaking for the Westin Indianapolis Airport hotel is expected this spring, with an anticipated completion date in December 2027.