Chatham-Kent is looking to add more hotels to attract more tourism and support large events and conferences.
An information report by CK Director of Economic Development Services Stuart McFadden said sites in Chatham along the Richmond Street corridor and in Wallaceburg along McNaughton Avenue and Wellington Street are preferred for a traditional hotel due to their proximity to amenities and Highways 401 and 402.
"Economic Development and Tourism Services have heard consistently from event creators, tourism businesses, and conference organizers that the lack of licensed overnight accommodations is a huge challenge to host large gatherings in Chatham-Kent," wrote McFadden. "The question of 'what is being done to attract more hotels to open in Chatham-Kent' is continually being asked."
McFadden noted event and conference organizers are currently directing visitors to licensed accommodations in Sarnia, Windsor, and London because there are not enough accommodations for them in Chatham-Kent.
A consultant's assessment to attract hotel investors said the Richmond Street corridor in Chatham is a major thoroughfare that has retail, restaurants, Cascades Casino, and the John D. Bradley Convention Centre. It also provides good accessibility off Highway 401 via Bloomfield Road and is connected Highway 40, which is the main route into Wallaceburg.
The McNaughton Avenue/Wellington Street/James Street location in Wallaceburg also offers nearby restaurants and retail and is connected to Chatham via Baseline into Highway 401, according to the consultant.
The consultant concluded that a mid-scale to upper mid-scale branded, limited-service hotel would likely be the best fit for future development.
"The hotel should include the appropriate offering of amenities for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel should include a fitness centre, breakfast room, and approximately 700 square feet of meeting space," said CBRE Limited.
CBRE noted the hotel should likely be 3-4 storeys with a total gross square footage of about 35,000 sq. ft. or 440 square feet per room requiring approximately 1.5-1.75 acres of land.