Forest City will soon be home to Hampton Inn & Suites

Arvind Maheshwari, president of Hotel One, was in Forest City on August 4 to announce that a Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton will be built in Forest City. Construction will begin on the hotel in March 2016 with an opening date set for March 2017.

Rutherford County has moved from motel to hotel status with an announcement on Aug. 4 of the construction of a Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton in Forest City.

Ground will be broken for the new hotel, which will features 85 rooms - 30 percent of which will be suites - in March 2016. The hotel will open, said Hotel One President Arvind Maheshwari, who is developing the hotel. The hotel will be an $8 million investment and will employ 20-plus employees.

Rutherford County Chamber Director Clark Poole welcomed those who attended the public announcement, saying that the development proves there are those who believe in the future of the area.

"I see representatives of the college, radio station, city managers ... you have all come to share in this announcement," he said.

Forest City Mayor Dennis Tarlton said Forest City was blessed to have been chosen. "This is perfect timing," he said, before introducing Maheshwari.

Hampton by Hilton, Maheshwari said, has more than 2,000 properties totaling more than 200,000 rooms in 16 countries and territories. Hotel One Incorporated currently owns and operates Holiday Inn Express in Forest City.

"Forest City was chosen due to the community support, feasibility studies and based on the profits at our current location," Maheshwari explained. The community support, he added, is important because without it it's difficult to develop and operate.

"Forest City is ready not only for a new hotel, but also a lot more business," he said.

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton will be built on a 3.2-acre lot located behind Bojangles.