New Life for Hotels in Downtown Detroit

"The city's hotel market is in the midst of a growth spurt as developers turn derelict downtown buildings into upscale boutique hotels. As momentum builds, even one former by-the-hour motel is getting cleaned up and renamed to attract a more respectable and deep-pocketed clientele," reports JC Reindl and John Gallagher.

The new developments are following a strong showing for the existing hotels in the city in 2014: "Spurred by a rebounding auto industry and convention business, as well as growth in entertainment options, downtown Detroit hotels saw their best performance in years in 2014, hitting an average occupancy rate of about 66%, according to local hospitality officials. The average nightly rate was $115 to $120." For comparison's sake, the Downtown occupancy rate was 47 percent in 2008.

Reindl and Gallgher give some credit for the resurgent hotel market in Detroit to the "$279-million expansion and upgrade of Cobo Center, the city's main convention facility. The work, due to finish this year, created the Grant Riverview Ballroom and the soaring riverside Atrium, major selling points for attracting new convention business."

The article goes on to provide details about some of the latest hotel projects to open, begin construction, or enter the planning and approval process.