Ground was broken Thursday (5/16) on a new hotel in Oskaloosa.  Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott is building on Highway 92, or A Avenue, just off Highway 163.  The new hotel will have 76 guest rooms, as well as an indoor swimming pool, exercise facility and a meeting room that can hold up to 80 people.  Matt Jacobs, President of Swift Hospitality Group, which will operate the hotel, says his group conducted a feasibility study before deciding to build in Oskaloosa.

“Right away, we could tell there was a great need within the market with a great community, a university, a recreational complex.  But many of the guests that were traveling into the community were staying in surrounding areas, and we knew that a business class hotel was needed to help accelerate the growth of the community.”

Oskaloosa Mayor David Krutzfeldt says having a hotel with the Fairfield Inn and Suites brand will send a message about Oskaloosa.

“What I’m talking about is that when people are building or if they’re even living next door to something that is done in an excellent fashion, it has an influence on their attitude.  And so I believe that the hotel that’s going to be built is going to influence the structures that are around and the ownership that is around, as well, to take their game up a bit.  And we will see a level of excellence, whether it be the restaurant or any convenience store, any other supporting industry around this hotel, I believe, is going to give a real good impression to people that are coming into the community or perhaps even just driving by.”

Jacobs says they hope the new Fairfield Inn and Suites will open in December.  It’s expected to have 25 to 30 full and part time employees.