Officials have cut a ribbon, opening Evansville’s new convention hotel.
Hundreds gathered at the intersection of Martin Luther King and Walnut in Downtown Evansville for the opening of the five-story, 240-room Hilton Doubletree.
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke told the crowd that the hotel replaces the Executive Inn, which closed more than 7 years ago…
(What stands behind me is a sparkling new convention hotel that will be a magnet for the city of Evansville. A magnet for state and regional conventions that have shied away from Evansville for a number of years because we didn't have a nice convention hotel. Because we had no convention hotel.)
Rick Huffman of the development group HCW thanked Winnecke, corporate leaders, and the construction workers who built the hotel in both hot and cold weather.
Huffman admits a few finishing touches remain…
(We're missing our tables, a few doors, some artwork, and a few finishing touches.)
Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Bob Warren says the $62 million hotel should generate about $16 million a year to the local economy.