Arlington Heights hotels say village must do more to keep visitors in town

Arlington Heights hotel managers say they are doing their part for the village's economy by bringing approximately 250,000 people to town each year, but they need officials' help to keep those visitors in town during their stays.

Managers from seven hotels, all within a 700-foot radius at the southern edge of town, told village leaders Monday that visitors staying in their 983 hotel rooms often go to Schaumburg or other suburbs for dining and entertainment.

"This is a gateway experience that is unique to the village," said Dave Parulo, president of Meet Chicago Northwest. "People get off the tollway and they aren't sure where they are. This is an opportunity to give them a welcoming experience and show them they are in Arlington Heights."

The hotels near the intersection of Arlington Heights and Algonquin roads are Doubletree by Hilton, Red Roof Inn, Courtyard Marriott, Motel 6, Wingate by Wyndham, Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Collectively they have spent $15 million in reinvestment and upgrades to their facilities over the past few years, officials said.

But hotel operators said there are several issues with the area keeping them from being more successful and leading their guests to leave village. They cited five major ways the village could improve their guests' experience: corridor beautification, pedestrian mobility, signage, economic development and appeal to younger visitors.

Karolina Skrodziuk, general manager of Courtyard by Marriott Arlington Heights South, said she wants to direct visitors to downtown Arlington Heights. But the drive to get there seems long and the route features many vacant lots and rundown shopping centers.

"It's the perception. Arlington Heights is beautiful, you have so much to offer," she said. "We just want to be a part of Arlington Heights, too, but we don't feel like we are."

Village trustees agreed there is work that can be done to give an identity to the southern portion of the village and better connect it with downtown.

"We haven't done a good job as a business community of sharing who we are with the hoteliers," Trustee Carol Blackwood said. "Shame on us if we don't follow up on this."

The hotel operators pointed to Schaumburg as an example of a town that is better connected with its tourism sector. For example, the village offers a shuttle that takes people from hotels to Woodfield Mall and other destinations in town.

"There's no way to say that area is attractive," said Trustee Joe Farwell. "It's a long way to drive from the hotels to the central business district. I don't think you feel excited about the area until you hit Central Road."

As far as economic development on vacant sites in the southern part of the village, Planning and Community Development Director Charles Perkins said there are many projects in the works, but they may take years to come to fruition.

"We have been marketing those sites very aggressively to anyone who will listen," Perkins said. "Right now it doesn't look so good, but they are great pieces of property. We are confident, but it's going to take some time."

At the corner of Golf and Arlington Heights roads, a developer is trying to find retailers for the TIF IV area that was long the subject of lawsuits and delays.

On the northeast corner of Arlington Heights and Algonquin roads, Yamasho Inc. has purchased and torn down the former Yanni's Greek Restaurant, but has not yet submitted plans for a new restaurant. The former Wellington banquet hall was purchased by Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 and torn down, but the property is now up for sale. Across Algonquin Road, the former Applebees, a drive-through bank and Cash for Gold store are all now under the same owner, who is looking for redevelopment opportunities that could include a mix of office and residential space.

In the short term, Perkins said the village could do a better job of trying to get construction crews working on the Jane Addams Tollway project to keep their sites cleaned up, enforce village codes and create banners or branding for the area.

In the next year, he said, the village also plans to commission a study on the corridor.