Those behind the upcoming TownePlace Suites by Marriott at Interstate 70 and U.S. 41 were honored by the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce Thursday afternoon as part of what the chamber called a “Community Investment Celebration.”
The event took place at the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau; it was relocated there because construction has already begun at the hotel site. The four-story, extended-stay hotel of 96 rooms and about 59,000 square feet means Terre Haute’s hotel room count will soon surpass 2,000.
The men being recognized for bringing the TownePlace Suites to Terre Haute are developer Nick Patel of Transcend Group LLC; Bill Hann, president of Spearhead Construction; and Jamie Amodeo, vice president and senior commercial lending officer for First Farmer’s Bank. All have local ties.
“We always welcome outside investment, but it’s a little more special when it’s a local investment,” said Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun. “These guys can go anywhere, but they chose to make an investment here and use 80% local trade construction workers.”
Hann said the decision to use local labor was Patel’s. “He said, ‘We want to use a local contractor.’”
Amodeo said, “We encourage people to not just stay in Terre Haute but invest in Terre Haute, and this was Nick’s decision.”
Amodeo also issued a statement reading, “Supporting projects like this aligns with our mission to strengthen local economies and create opportunities that benefit families, businesses, and visitors alike. We’re proud to play a part in this milestone for Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley.”
Karen Dyer, executive director of the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau, said exceeding 2,000 hotel rooms in the city represented a significant achievement, and “addresses a critical need from a tourism point of view.”
Patel had gone before the Terre Haute City Council seeking a tax abatement to build the hotel, but it was voted down in May. A majority of council members present voted for it (the vote was 4-3), but council rules dictate that any affirmative ruling needs five yes votes and two council members were not on hand for the vote.
“I know Nick has invested a lot of time and effort to get to the point to develop in Terre Haute,” Hann said. “We’re awful glad he made that decision — he can build anywhere, he doesn’t have to build here, but this is home for him and this is where he wants to spend his efforts. We’re happy to be a part of it.”
Patel declined to comment.
In a statement, Sakbun said, “The addition of another Marriott branded hotel is clear evidence that our community is open and ready for tourism business. Nick has dedicated many years of his life to our community. We are thankful to have investors like him who believe in our city.”
