New hotel to be built near airport

A ground-breaking was held earlier this month for a new hotel going in near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. CONTRIBUTED

A ground-breaking was held earlier this month for a new hotel going in near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. CONTRIBUTED

Hotel Evolution, an Atlanta-based hospitality management, development and consulting company held a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 8 for a Home2 Suites by Hilton near the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, according to a press release.

It will be the third hotel for the company.

The 99-suite Home2, an upper-midscale extended-stay hotel, is going up next to the company’s Hampton Inn & Suites.

The new hotel is seven stories, six above ground with a daylight basement. it is expected to open in August 2019. Hotel Evolution will manage the Home2 Suites.

Neel Shah, president of the company, joined the CID because he was concerned about what he saw as dysfunction in the relationships among the municipalities that surround the airport. Lack of common ground and goals would eventually lead to the market’s decline.

Over the past two years, the CID has brought about numerous improvements to the Aerotropolis neighborhoods, including better lighting for the 14 interstate exits that serve it and improved security by hiring a well-organized security service. Future improvements include a network of security cameras as well as more beautification.

More importantly, Shah said, the functionality of the surrounding city governments has greatly improved. “It was a different story 20 years ago than it is right now,” he said. “Frankly, it’s a different story from a year and a half ago.”