THATCHER — The ownership group of a major hotel in Thatcher is seeking approval to develop a second operation.
Thatcher Town Manager Heath Brown said Sunridge Hotel Group, the owner of the Springhill Suites by Marriott hotel is seeking a variance from the town to construct a four-story, 70-room, extended-stay hotel.
“We had a crew in town to work on some communication lines, they were here for a week and they had to rent hotels in Willcox and commute back-and-forth, because there was literally not one hotel room available. So we definitely need it,” Brown said.
If approved, the hotel will be developed on the parcel of land immediately to the east of the Springhill Suites by Marriott, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 70 and Church Street.
Thatcher town code only allows buildings up to three stories tall, so the developer will go before the Board of Adjustment next week to request the variance. Brown said he will also look at changing town code to allow for taller structures in the future.
Sunridge Hotel Group is based in Mesa and operates 12 hotels in Arizona, California, Colorado and Utah.
A feasibility study for a new hotel in Safford was completed earlier this year by the hospitality consulting firm Core Distinction Group.
Based on current hotel occupancy and demand, the study recommends development of a new hotel with 70-90 rooms. However, with property under consideration in the Downtown area of Safford, a new hotel there would likely be 55-82 rooms in size.
Area businesses drive the biggest need for hotel sales, accounting for 65 percent of local hotel occupancy according to the study, while events and attractions generate just 15 percent of hotel sales.
The study shows a new hotel’s estimated direct economic impact to be $540,336 in sales, bed and real estate taxes in Safford the first year, climbing to $635,750 by year five.
