Best Western Planned In Dayton

DAYTON - Dayton is getting a Best Western hotel that will broaden the kind of accommodations available in town.

"This is going to give Dayton an opportunity to springboard us to the next level," said Claudia Nysoe, the executive director of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. Nysoe and Windermere agent Blaine Bickelhaupt have confirmed the hotel is in the works.

"It's just in the beginning stages," Bickelhaupt said. "We're getting it rolling as fast as possible."

The developers are meeting, but Bickelhaupt said nothing will happen soon because the project will still need to get through permitting the process. Nysoe said the new hotel will be built near the current Dayton Wine Works on Main Street at the east entrance to town.

The hotel will have about 50 rooms or less, Nysoe said, but it will open the door to hosting small conferences.

Also, Dayton needs mid-range accommodations, she said.

"A choice is the Weinhard Hotel, but it's more high-end," she said. "At the other end of the spectrum are the Dayton Motel and the Blue Mountain Motel. There's no midpriced option. We've lost a lot of business to Walla Walla."

Despite a new hotel coming to town, Nysoe doesn't see any disadvantages.

She said the current accommodations will continue to have guests.

"I don't think it's going to hurt the Weinhard at all," Nysoe said. "It's apples to oranges."

No date for construction has been announced and Nysoe and Bickelhaupt said there should be a press release with more information coming out soon.