2 new hotels coming to Aurora

Aurora is set to double the number of hotels in town, as Mayor Tom Mrakas touts the news as a boon for tourism and local businesses.

The first of two new hotels, Staybridge Suites, is under construction at 175 Eric T Smith Way, close to the 110-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites near Highway 404, which had its own grand opening in 2020.

Town staff are currently reviewing the development agreement for what would be Aurora’s fourth hotel, a Hampton Inn and Suites, proposed for 4 Don Hillock Dr., according to Mrakas.

He added when the approval and building processes are complete, which could be in the next few weeks, ground is expected to be broken on the hotel in spring 2025.

The opening of the Holiday Inn in 2020 marked the first hotel in Aurora in several years, and was closely followed in 2022 of the 100-room Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham at 180 Goulding Ave.

Mrakas said more hotels will bring more tourism dollars into Aurora, as well as reduce the tax burden on residents by allowing the town to rely less on the residential property levy come budget time.

“Especially, whether it's sports, whether it's from a business perspective — without hotels, it was problematic in attracting some of those things to come to the town,” said Mrakas. “We always heard, especially from our sporting organizations, hosting tournaments was problematic."

Mrakas said having hotels in town has already helped in attracting events, saying the Inked Circus Tattoo Expo in June would not have happened without them. 

Mrakas said he was also hopeful boosting the number of hotels would bring in more conferences, like technology expos, and attract large businesses to town.

“Most head offices of corporations tend to have people come in for meetings from out of town. Without a hotel, we're not an attractive place for those corporations to come into our town. So this will help with that economic development.”