Pine Bluff Hotel Public Facilities Board approves Marriott franchise to replace Plaza Hotel

Pine Bluff, Arkansas – The Pine Bluff Hotel Public Facilities Board has sanctioned plans to supplant the erstwhile Plaza Hotel with a Marriott establishment, as per a report by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

In 2019, the Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency acquired the hotel, formally announcing its intended sale to Marriott in November 2022. As part of this development strategy, the neighboring Pine Bluff Convention Center will undergo enhancements to boost its event hosting capabilities.

The Plaza Hotel, which currently houses 200 rooms, is slated for demolition. In its place, the design for the new establishment outlines a 125-room hotel, complemented by a bistro. Post-demolition, the construction phase is projected to span 15 to 18 months. Financially, the undertaking is estimated to command a budget of around $24.1 million. Notably, the Go Forward Pine Bluff tax is earmarked to contribute approximately $3 million towards this initiative.

Significantly, the principal portion of the financial outlay is anticipated to be offset by a loan procured from the United States Department of Agriculture. This loan is structured to be collateralized exclusively against the hotel’s revenue, ensuring the City of Pine Bluff remains unencumbered by any fiscal liability.