News Summary

DAYTON — City officials have begun a search for someone to build and operate a new hotel at Dayton International Airport.

Requests for development proposals go out nationally early next week to hotel chains and other groups that operate inns, Tom Biedenharn, the city's director of public affairs said.

"We're looking for a good quality hotel that will serve our traveling customers," Biedenharn said.

The proposed hotel would be located on 2.45 acres between Terminal Drive and Cargo Road.

Dayton, which owns the airport and the 155-room existing Dayton Airport Hotel, plans to demolish the current building to make room for a parking lot, Iftikhar Ahmad, the city's aviation director, said on April 10.

The current two-story hotel lacks a brand name and an elevator. It also has no affiliation with a national reservation-booking system.

The hotel's last day of business is to be Jan. 16, leaving some of CWB Property Management's 60 employees without jobs. CWB, based in Dublin, Ohio, has operated the hotel for the city since 2000.

CWB President Bill Wolfe said his company is trying to find jobs for those employees at other CWB holdings or local hotels.

"We didn't choose to close the hotel. The city did," Wolfe said. "We have invited everyone to stay until Jan. 16, 2009."

Biedenharn said hotel employees would be offered jobs at the new hotel, when and if one opens. The airport is a financially self-supporting entity of Dayton and it receives no tax dollars from the city's general fund.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2362 or josmith@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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