Is there a market for a 100-room riverfront hotel and adjoining conference center in downtown Warren?

A firm with plenty of expertise in answering such questions is ready to issue its opinion.
Horvath Hospitality Advisors, Inc. in May was selected by the Northwest Regional Planning and Development Commission to determine how viable a riverfront hotel with nearby conference facilities for 200 to 400 people might be.

The hotel will be built on former Loranger Manufacturing property on the western end of Clark St. The conference center would be located in a renovated portion of the existing Loranger building.

Horvath had said it expected to complete its study of the hotel and conference center's potential market by the end of August and, according to Jim Decker, of the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry, the North Carolina firm remains on schedule to issue a draft report within the next few days.

Geoffrey Kirkland of Horvath contacted Decker this week and said the draft report will be completed within the next week.

Kirkland said information has been acculumated and the potential market has been identified for both the motel and conference center.

Decker said the report will also include the firm's assessment of "challenges we need to address."
Decker said that it important that the community understands exactly what the study is suggesting.
For instance, It is possible, said Decker, that the study may conclude "the motel works but the conference center is iffy."

If the study concludes that the success of a conference center is contingent on development of other downtown facilities, Decker said it important that the community has a clear understanding of what those amenities are.

Horvath Hospitality Advisors has done market analysis for Holiday Inns and Sheraton hotels, convention centers in New Orleans and the universities of Texas and Maryland.

The conference center is not designed to attract events which would nomally be held in larger facilities but smaller gatherings which might find the Warren area attractive because of its outdoor and recreational opportunities.

The finished study will be turned over to Susquehannas Development Group, which is heading "Impact Warren," the project to reviatlize downtown Warren and the riverfront.

Susquehanna will use the data to market the Clark St. property, which was purchased from a federal bankruptcy court for $900,000.

Architect Thomas Harley, who has worked with "Impact Warren," has said the Loranger building's high bays, floors capable of bearing heavy loads and flexible space make the building ideal for conferences and exhibitions.

Funding for the study was provided by a $22,500 state tourism grant through the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission.