NW airport board hears pitches on future hotel

Airport officials want about 120 rooms and quality amenities, according to Aaron Burkes, airport CEO.

HIGHFILL — Northwest Arkansas National Airport officials are still looking at having a hotel on airport property and, while there’s no agreement in place, the board got a look at two concepts Tuesday.

Airport officials last year sought proposals for a hotel project, but got no responses. This year, they’ve been talking with Hospitality Development of America, which provided two concepts to the board.

Airport officials want about 120 rooms and quality amenities, according to Aaron Burkes, airport CEO.

Stephen J. Martens, president of the Martens Cos., told board members they envision a hotel and amenities aimed at the business traveler. He said they don’t have an agreement with any specific brand to operate the hotel.

The concepts include a restaurant and lounge, airfield views, meeting rooms, a fitness center and outdoor areas but would not include a pool, Martens said.

Flight information would also be available in the hotel.

The site officials are looking at now would be at the northwest corner of the loop road, within walking distance of the terminal. Design would take four to six months and construction 16 to 20 months, according to the presentations.

Officials envision having private entities build and operate a hotel under a 30-year lease agreement.

Burkes said staff are only seeking feedback from the board at this time. He said those types of agreements are common in the airport industry. Staff will continue to work on the specifics of a potential agreement and come back to the board at a later date.

Airport officials are looking at changing traffic patterns for people and cars outside and inside as a terminal renovation project proceeds.

Motorists can expect to see the drop-off areas moved to the east side of the terminal and pick-up areas moved across the street from the terminal in order to give construction crews more space to work.

Inside, foot traffic is expected to be shifted as new elevators and escalators are installed inside the front of the terminal.

The $39 million terminal renovation is adding more elevators, escalators and stairwells and new baggage-handling equipment. The federal Transportation Security Administration and police areas are being renovated.

Airport and Arkansas Department of Transportation officials are hoping to break ground for the access road in mid-April, according to board member and Highway Commissioner Philip Taldo.

Transportation officials are still working on the logistics for completing the airport road and the remaining portion of the U.S. 412 Springdale Northern Bypass.

The airport road will take off from a new portion of Arkansas 612 — also known as the U.S. 412 Springdale Northern Bypass — just west of the Arkansas 112 interchange and go to Airport Boulevard at the airport’s south entrance off Arkansas 264.

The airport road will be about 4 miles and have 11 bridges, Taldo said. The road should be open in mid-2027, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Three companies submitted bids for the airport road project. Crossland Construction of Columbus, Kan., was the apparent low bidder last month at $127,674,716.

The Transportation Department awarded the bid for the new section of the U.S. 412 Springdale Northern Bypass between Arkansas 112 and U.S. 412 in June.

Currently signed as Arkansas 612, the new 6.9-mile, four-lane divided section of highway will run from U.S. 412 west of Tontitown to the existing portion of Arkansas 612 at Arkansas 112 just north of Elm Springs.

Emery Sapp & Sons was the low bidder on the project at almost $181 million. The company estimated it would take 833 days to complete the project, which includes a new interchange for the planned connector road to the airport.

The Transportation Department is also looking at a connector road linking the Bella Vista Bypass and Springdale Northern Bypass and running near the airport as well as a way to improve traffic flow on Arkansas 59, all to address traffic concerns in western Benton County, Taldo said.

“We want to get it all done as quick as we can,” he said.