Courtyard by Marriott to be built by Dec. 2010

Construction work began last month on the $21 million, 143-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel located next to the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.

San Antonio-based K Partners Hospitality Group purchased the land to build the hotel from Terrebonne Parish for $794,970.

Construction is expected to be completed by December 2010, with operations to begin in March 2011, said Mark Crisci, K Partners’ executive vice president of investments and development.

The parish’s June 2008 contract with K Partners stipulated that construction on the hotel begin by April 2009, but K Partners asked the Terrebonne Parish Council in August to extend the date for the start time, which the council approved.

Mike Ferdinand, CEO of the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority, said K Partners had encountered difficulty securing financing from its primary financing group.

Damage to Terrebonne caused by hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008 and the national financial crisis in the same year were also causes of the delay, Ferdinand said.

In 2007, K Partners announced that the building would be occupied by a Hilton Garden Inn. In early 2008, K Partners said the site would be a Marriott SpringHill Suites before naming Marriott Courtyard Hotel on February 25 that year.

“They said they were looking to put out a high quality accommodation,” Ferdinand said. “The hotel will improve and expand the events that can be brought to the civic center.”

He said organizations conducting events look for accommodations in the immediate area of the venue.

“If it’s not available, that civic center or venue is not considered as a site for the event,” Ferdinand said. “Basically, they want accommodations across the street. It makes it easier for (civic center staff) to put together.”