The Fairfield by Marriott on SR 15N in Warsaw is set to open Friday, April 24. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

By Dan Spalding
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – The first of three new hotels in Warsaw will open on Friday, April 24.

Fairfield by Marriott, a four-floor hotel on SR 15N near the Kohl’s department store, will begin a soft opening Friday.

While the coronavirus pandemic has slowed the economy – and especially the hospitality sector, Fairfield General Manager Chiquita Lane said there was still a sense of urgency to finish construction and open up before the other two – a Holiday Inn Express and a Tru by Hilton.

Fairfield by Marriott General Manager Chiquita Lane stands near the breakfast bar area in the new hotel. InkFreeeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

“It was very important because we can establish ourselves in the community before the others are open,” Lane said.

Fairfield had been originally slated to open May 30, but the owners decided to push the opening date as soon as possible, Lane said.

Lane said she had some initial concerns about the opening date when the pandemic first revved up but was reassured by ownership.

“It feels amazing,” Lane said, given the circumstances.

The hotel has 92 rooms, including extended stay rooms, a breakfast bar, a fitness room and a pool.

The fitness room and pool will remain closed until restrictions are lifted, Lane said.

The hotel has about 10 employees right now and will expand to 20 or 25 when fully operational.

“As everything is lifted, we’ll start to fill back in,” Lane said.

While Marriott has regularly used disinfectants, the hotel has increased that approach during the pandemic.

That sense of urgency coincides with a demand for more hotel rooms in Warsaw, in part because of the orthopedic industry, and traffic from the City-County Athletic Complex and Grace College.

“There is a great need in the county for hotels,” Lane said.

Meanwhile, a Holiday Inn Express and Suites and a Tru by Hilton are being constructed near each other on the north side of US 30 near Center Street. 

The Holiday Inn project appears to be close to finishing construction. Construction crews at Tru by Hilton were working on the exterior this week.

The fitness room at the new Fairfield by Marriott will remain closed until restrictions are lifted. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

The Holiday Inn Express along US 30 in Warsaw appears as if construction is nearly complete. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

Construction on a new Tru by Hilton continues. The business is located near US 30 and Center Street. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.