The Hollister Planning Commission this week is expected to review a request for approval of a new Fairfield Inn & Suites Marriott Hotel to be built at 390 Gateway Drive, just west of Tiffany Ford.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Hollister City Hall, 375 Fifth St.
Planning commissioners first approved the hotel five years ago, but developers shelved it due to economic circumstances. Now the original planners are back, and city officials are expected to approve the project.
It comes back as the city is looking to expand efforts to increase tourism in Hollister, including the consideration of a tourism business improvement district that would allow hotel owners to pool resources in order to promote local attractions. Officials hope tourism funding also might come from a potential increase in the transient occupany tax.
In December, the board of supervisors considered placing a proposed TOT increase on the November 2014 general election ballot in order to fund tourism promotion. If added to the ballot and approved by voters, the tax would increase from 8 percent to between 10 and 12 percent, bringing in at least another $20,000 a year to the county for tourism promotion.
The new Fairfield hotel would include 81 rooms and suites, a business work room with an office, an indoor swimming pool, an exercise room, and a breakfast room, according to planners. It is a slightly scaled-back version of the 2009 proposal.
