OFFICIALS SAY NEW AIRPORT IS DRIVING FACTOR
Passengers who take to the skies will soon have more hotels to choose from in Kansas City.
Developers are rapidly building hotels along the I-29 corridor and several new hotels with a variety of room accommodations are now being considered.
There are currently 46 hotels in Platte County, totaling 4,604 guest rooms.
“As Platte County is the fastest-growing county in Missouri, there has been a substantial increase in businesses along the I-29 corridor,” said Tina Chase, executive director of the Platte County Economic Development Council (EDC). “With the completion of the new Kansas City International Airport terminal, along with the recent announcement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we’re seeing an influx to our region, attracting guests and potential new business opportunities from all over the world.
“Platte County EDC will continue to champion businesses that bring quality jobs and investment to our community, adding to the overall quality of life for our residents,” Chase added.
KMG Hotels is seeking the Kansas City Plan Commission’s approval to construct two hotels on undeveloped land near North Newark Circle and North Ambassador Drive, directly northeast of Interstate 29 and 112th Street.
The 5.15-acre site sits just 1.3 miles east of the new KCI Airport Terminal, adjacent to the Hampton Inn and Phillips 66 gas station. Plans consist of adding two four-story Courtyard by Marriott hotels with 140 guest rooms and 75,505 square feet of floor space.
Renderings produced by Renaissance Infrastructure Consulting portray an upper-midscale hotel with a variety of amenities, including collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms, a 24-hour gym, and a bistro bar.
The hotel’s classic rectangular shape suits the layout of the lot and will provide maximum functionality, developers say. The first floor will have outdoor patios with fire pits that serve as an extension of its indoor spaces, while the other floors comfortably fit 41 guestrooms each.
Design plans by Shaw Hofstra Associates depict white and grey fiber cement siding panels that will provide a time-honored, classic hotel look, according to developers. Narrow sections around windows may feature gecko-green painted accent panels.
Currently, the construction of several new hotels along the I-29 corridor is rapidly underway.
KMG is building a 98-room Tru by Hilton at 109820 N. Ambassador Drive and Wheatbelt broke ground in July on a 104-room Atwell Suites.
Last month, Choice Hotels began construction on a five-story Woodspring Suites hotel with 94 guest rooms near Chatham and NW Prairie View Road in southern Platte County.
Hotel plans come at a time when the Kansas City International Airport terminal is seeing a large-rise in number of passengers, according to city aviation officials.
The Kansas City Aviation Department reports that 991,859 passengers arrived and departed through Kansas City International Airport’s gates in September, a 13.1-percent increase from September 2022. Passenger boardings were up 13.0 percent, with a total of 494,995 boarding, said Joe McBride, communications director for the Kansas City Aviation Department.
“It is with great enthusiasm that we announce this new September record at Kansas City International Airport,” said interim aviation Director Justin Meyer. “We are thankful for our airline partners who’ve added new flights and new destinations, and to the passengers who took advantage of more than 300 daily flights to and from Kansas City last month.”
The number of peak-day scheduled airplane departures for September was 154 and all-cargo carriers reported nine daily departures. People flying out were offered service to 48 nonstop markets.
With such a striking rise in airline travelers, airport officials say the new single terminal has not only propelled a greater demand for air travel but also provided passengers with a better user experience.
“I am proud of the overwhelming positive feedback our brand-new Kansas City International Airport is continuing to receive over the past six months and I am thrilled we are continuing to break boarding records,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas. “A busy and active KCI means more jobs and continued local economic growth long-term. We will continue to work with airlines to further expand domestic and international service out of Kansas City.”
Hoteliers say the additional guest rooms will enable the market to attract new transient and group room guests arriving in and out of KCI Airport.
Hotel occupancy rates in Platte County have grown year-over-year and hotel revenue per available room has grown 11.5 percent year-to-date compared to last year.
Hotel developers are seeking construction approval from the City Plan Commission on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The hearing will be held at City Hall at 414 East 12th Street on the 26th floor of the Council Chamber.
