Ground was broken today on the construction of a new, on-campus hotel at West Texas A&M University.

InVision Hotel Group will construct a new Hampton Inn and Suites on University property at 3401 Fourth Ave., east of a Holiday Inn Express that’s also leased to private owners.

“We believe that, given the way the University has been growing in the last 10 years and with the lack of new hotels in Canyon, partnering now with WT and the City of Canyon will attract guests from all over,” said Pritesh Bhakta, co-owner of InVision Hotel Group.

The new, four-story Hampton Inn will feature about 90 rooms and suites, an expanded banquet and conference room, an outdoor area for picnics, a pool and a bar, Bhakta said.

The project began after a feasibility study was commissioned by the Canyon Economic Development Corp., said Evelyn Ecker, CEDC executive director.

“We invested in the lodging feasibility study several years ago, realizing the growth in the community, especially WT. The result of the study validated the need for additional lodging,” Ecker said. “This new Hampton Inn will allow more people to stay in Canyon and enjoy our community.”

“We’ve been needing this,” echoed Roger Remlinger, executive director of the Canyon Chamber of Commerce. “This is a great opportunity for us to bring in more tourism, both in our city and at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. We’re excited for this new partnership.”

The project officially will get underway in January, with a projected November 2021 completion.

The agreement calls for InVision to pay an annual rental fee to lease the ground from WT for the next 35 years.

“This is a good partnership not only for the University, but also for the City of Canyon,” said Randy Rikel, vice president for business and finance. “Bringing in another hotel will increase the hotel occupancy tax collected by the city, which in turn will benefit the University and other entities around the community.”

The hotel is in easy driving distance not only of Palo Duro Canyon, but also the WT campus and downtown Canyon.

A focus on community life is a key component of the University’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

-West Texas A&M University