Developers broke ground on the hotel at 960 Morthland Drive in Valparaiso, Valparaiso Building Commissioner Vicki Thrasher said. The 39,100-square-foot hotel will cost $8 million to build, she said.
Good Hospitality, MJF Hospitality and Holladay Properties are building the new hotel as part of the larger MJF Subdivision development. Three other surrounding parcels also will be developed along the busy highway.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this vibrant, modern hotel to life,” Good Hospitality said in a press release. “From the ground up, this property is being built with comfort, convenience, and today’s traveler in mind. We’re proud to partner on a project that will elevate the guest experience and contribute to the local economy right here in Valpo.”
Groundwork is now underway at the side, which has been fenced off. The first of two stair towers is now vertical and the under-slab rough-in has been finished, according to South Bend-based Holladay Properties, which is handling design-build services for the project.
Masonry work will start soon on an elevator shaft.
Hilton Worldwide, the multinational hospitality giant, launched the Tru by Hilton brand in January 2016 to compete in the midscale market against chains like Comfort Inn, La Quinta and Drury Inn and Suites. It’s positioned to be more affordable than regular Hilton hotels, such as by offering smaller rooms with platform beds instead of box springs, as well as limited food and drink options.
Tru by Hilton has grown to more than 300 locations around the country, including in Merrillville.
The midscale hotel market of hotels with fewer than 140 rooms has been booming since the pandemic as travel has picked up while travelers have gotten more budget-conscious in a time of inflation. Grand View Research estimated midscale hotels brought in more than $263 billion in revenue last year.
Good Hospitality Services has built more than 90 hotels since it was founded in Valparaiso in 1994. It develops and manages hotels all over the country, representing brands like Tru by Hilton, Hampton Inn by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Springhill Suites by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott.