The city of Columbus plans to work with Sprague Hotel Developers to come up with a downtown hotel and conference center. The Columbus Redevelopment Commission accepted the recommendation of its Hotel/Conference Center Team to start negotiations with Sprague.

Sprague, owned by Janeen Sprague and based in downtown Columbus, already locally operates Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express & Suites and Comfort Inn in Edinburgh, along with the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites in Seymour. They also have hotels in Indianapolis, Fishers, Franklin, Greenwood and Noblesville.

Tom Vujovich, co-chair of the team, says that a hotel and conference center is a major part of the “Envision Columbus” plan. He adds that two pieces of downtown property are being considered for the project.

Which property will be utilized has yet to be negotiated.

The commission voted unanimously to accept the recommendation and proceed into the negotiation process with Sprague Hotel Developers.

The body also approved a resolution to amend a contract with Hunden Strategic Partners to to allow that group to help with negotiations on this project on behalf of the commission. They agreed to set aside $20,000 to pay for that assistance, as needed, on an hourly basis.