At its Tuesday meeting, the Corpus Christi city council approved Type B funding for a $34 million hospitality development on the Padre Island Seawall that combines two Marriott brands, a conference center, and a restaurant/bar facility. The project is designed to address a local shortage of higher-quality hotel rooms and to catalyze new development along the Seawall corridor.
The development will include a 107-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 98-room Residence Inn by Marriott, alongside a 9,186-square-foot conference center with outdoor event space and a Bar Louie restaurant/bar facility. Project proponents say the conference space and resort-style amenities will serve both visitor growth and local community events, helping Padre Island fill a gap in meeting space availability.
City materials note several drivers behind the investment: Corpus Christi lacks sufficient higher-end hotel inventory to meet visitor demand; no significant new Seawall hotel development has occurred in nearly 50 years; and more than half of the Seawall acreage remains available for future projects. Officials expect the project to establish a stronger market for higher room rates, which could attract even more upscale development to the area.
The developer — which has more than 20 hotel projects in its portfolio and owns adjacent acreage for future expansion — plans to begin construction in the third quarter of 2025 with completion targeted within two years. The project is expected to create 73 jobs, with an average salary of $30,665. Parking for the development will be provided on-site, with additional adjacent acreage designated for overflow as market demand dictates.
Located near the center of the Seawall on land owned by Padre Island North LLC, the dual-branded hotel and conference center aim to create a destination resort atmosphere that blends beachfront access, meeting facilities and food-and-beverage offerings. Supporters argue the project will bring much-needed meeting capacity for community events while boosting visitor stays and local spending…