PENN Entertainment will host a groundbreaking ceremony for a new hotel at Hollywood Casino Columbus on Tuesday, the company announced.
The ceremony is slated for 1 p.m. EST.
“We are thrilled to soon begin construction on a new, state-of-the-art hotel at Hollywood Casino Columbus,” Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment said in a release. “Since opening in 2012, our Columbus property has experienced tremendous growth, and the addition of a hotel at Hollywood Casino Columbus will create a true regional destination.”
The Ohio hotel project boasts an estimated budget of $100 million and will be attached to the existing property there. It’s expected to include 180 rooms, meeting space, and a new restaurant, according to a PENN release. Local partnerships are expected to be announced later. Hollywood Casino was originally built in 2009.
According to an Ohio Casino Control Commission report, casino revenue stood at $763,445,515 through September.
“We are elated to be celebrating this day with our team members, supporters, and key stakeholders,” said Rick Skinner, Vice President and General Manager of Hollywood Casino Columbus. “We can’t wait to begin hiring new team members and welcoming more visitors from around the region to showcase our new hotel and the excitement of Hollywood Casino Columbus.”
The project is expected to create upwards of 100 permanent jobs, which could have lasting importance in a west Columbus area still suffering economic decline. Numerous buildings are in the process of being razed there, including Westland Mall with the help of state funding. Local businesspersons hope the addition of the new hotel sparks economic development in west Columbus.
PENN Casino Property Expansion Impacts Four States
Beyond Columbus, the hotel is part of a broader PENN plan involving four “growth projects” at a cost of $850 million:
- A new land-based casino in Aurora and Joliet, Illinois
- An additional hotel tower in Henderson, Nevada
The City of Aurora will provide $50 million in funding for the project in its jurisdiction.
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