The Parx Casino complex on Street Road is about to get bigger over the next two years.
During its recent meeting, the Bensalem Township council unanimously approved creation of Parx Casino Hotel, slated to be completed by 2025 with construction set to launch later this year.
“This is the culmination of a plan which has been in the works for over a decade at this property, and we’re very excited,” said Mike Meginniss, legal council for the project.
According to Meginniss, the hotel will stretch to a height of 158 feet, encompassing 13 stories, 11 of which will be guest levels.
Amenities are set to include a high-end restaurant on the top floor that features stunning views, a coffee shop, spa, fitness center and convention center/banquet hall that will be utilized for weddings, business meetings and community events, such as local sports team gatherings. This means that, unlike the casino’s 21-plus rule, children are permitted to stay at the hotel.
The convention hall has a maximum capacity of about 800 people and has moveable walls to accommodate parties of varying sizes.
A walkway between the hotel and existing casino will be constructed.
Guests driving to the hotel will enjoy ample parking, and be able to pull around to either the main entrance or the convention center entrance, depending on what they’re there for.
Other features include a second restaurant on the lobby-level and, on the top floor, high-end guest suites.
Meginniss highlighted the fact that Parx Casino Hotel will bring a slew of new jobs to the area and, he added, stimulate economic growth.
“It’s going to, we think, provide an attractive opportunity for business members and other people outside of our community that are gonna come to the site and be patrons. We think this is going to have a downstream effect, not just for the casino, but hopefully for other businesses and restaurants in the area when we can attract those sorts of individuals to stay at this hotel,” said Meginniss.
The hotel is a multi-million-dollar project that has been on Parx’s to-do list for some time.
“This is an opportunity to finally bring that vision to fruition,” said Meginniss.
Council members asked several questions, including whether or not Parx will partner with a hotel brand, such as Hilton. Parx’s chief operating officer John Dixon stressed that everything, including the top-floor restaurant, will be operated in-house, though Parx is looking toward Marriott as the standard for the hotel’s 4-star design.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
