As soon as the Shumway family from Snowflake tossed dirt in the air as a part of a groundbreaking ceremony, it seemed that heavy equipment started moving in to start building the multi-million-dollar Hilton Garden Inn Hotel.
More than 50 people from the City of Prescott, Prescott Chamber of Commerce, business community and general public gathered at the intersection of Montezuma and Sheldon for the event on June 11. They heard Steve Shumway and his family praise the “cooperative attitude and spirit of the greater Prescott community for its support and cooperation in bringing the modern hotel to Prescott.”
The 100-room, multi-story hotel will be connected to the historic Sam Hill Warehouse via a century-old railway trestle. The old warehouse, which belonged to Prescott College before being sold to the Shumways, is being converted into a conference center. Shumway quipped, “Now everyone in the country will know what is meant by the question ‘Where in the Sam Hill is it?’ The answer: ‘In Prescott, next to the Hilton Garden Inn.’”
Shumway introduced Dennis Porter, president of Porter Brothers Construction out of Gilbert. Porter told Quad Cities Business News that he and his team were making every effort to purchase supplies and materials locally to support the Prescott economy. “We’ve also already hired two local firms and sub-contractors,” he said.
Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli welcomed Shumway and his wife, Heidi, and his parents, Doug and Dixie Shumway, to the community. “We think you should move over here from Show Low. We’ve got a lot more to offer,” he said with a grin.
Mengarelli told the crowd that, for a time, he was unsure whether the hotel would be built because so many moving parts were involved, especially public and private partnerships. “But it happened, and all of this region will benefit economically and hospitality-wise.”
Prescott City Manager Michael Lamar repeated Mengarelli’s praise for the cooperative efforts within the community. He noted that Arizona Public Service and Prescott College were particularly supportive.
A recent study commissioned by the City of Prescott had a consulting firm, Applied Consultants, project potential economic benefits as a result of the construction and operation of the hotel and adjacent facilities. The report estimated the annual economic impact would be in the range of almost $18 million a year, with the 10-year impact approaching $180 million. QCBN
By Ray Newton, QCBN
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