DoubleTree by Hilton to Welcome New Full-Service Hotel in Downtown Abilene, TX

Courtesy of Abilene CVB

The Abilene Convention Center Hotel Development Corp. will break ground Friday on a new full-service conference hotel in downtown Abilene. The fanfare will take place Oct. 15, 9 a.m., onsite, North 6 Street and Cypress, adjacent to the Abilene Convention Center.

The new DoubleTree by Hilton will bring 17,000-square feet of meeting space, 200-rooms of lodging, full-service dining, a pool deck, rooftop bar, and other heart-warming amenities to heart of the Abilene’s bustling arts and business district. Guests and convention-goers can stay within walking distance of event venues, restaurants, breweries, shops, museums, and the city’s famous storybook sculpture collection. Construction is anticipated to take 18 months, with an opening date in Spring 2023.

“This groundbreaking ceremony represents over three decades of hard work and dedication from men and women in this community,” said Abilene Mayor Anthony Williams. “Today, we celebrate that and continue their work for an even better Abilene. We want to create opportunities for all, and this accomplishment represents that value. This is a giant win for the Abilene of tomorrow.”

Adding lodging to the development mix in downtown Abilene has been a longtime goal for the city. The area’s renaissance started 30 years ago with the revival of key historic landmarks, cultural venues and meeting spaces, entertainment, dining and retail. Residential followed, and that urban lifestyle has launched Abilene into a top draw for entrepreneurial millennials.

The $80 million project is the result of a public-private partnership allowing Abilene to reinvest state and local Hotel Occupancy Tax collected at the facility, a unique partnership made possible through the legislative efforts of Texas State Rep. Stan Lambert and State Sen. Dawn Buckingham in 2017.

“This project will be the economic cornerstone of the future of downtown Abilene,” Lambert said. “My team and I worked hard to ensure that HB2445 crossed the ‘finish line’ in the 85th legislative session, providing state sales tax reimbursement generated by the property for 10 years. This revenue stream was vital to the financing package approved by the city for the development of the hotel.”

Buckingham agreed. “I am proud to have worked with Rep. Lambert, the City of Abilene and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce during the 85th Legislative Session to make this project a reality,” she said. “This new hotel and conference center will be a welcoming addition to the Big Country as downtown Abilene continues on a path of remarkable revitalization. I cannot wait to visit upon completion.”

The Abilene Convention Center Hotel Development Corp. has contracted with Dallas-based Garfield Public/Private LLC for development, design, and construction of the property, while Texas-based DPR Construction in Dallas won the Design Build Agreement.

For more information, visit www.abilenevisitors.com/Downtown_Hotel.