Urbana – Finally, the former Urbana-Lincoln and Landmark Hotel is on the threshold of opening as Hotel Royer.
“April 16 is the expected opening day,” Haaris Pervaiz, partner at Icon Hospitality, told Urbana City Council at a meeting Monday night. “It’s the date we agreed to with Hilton, and that’s the date we’re planning to open.”
He added that this is a “soft opening” and that an epic opening will be announced later.
“We are very pleased to report tonight that the final certificate of possession was issued for Hotel Royer,” Mayor Diane Merlin said. “It happened this afternoon and they received public health permits later last week.”
Achieving occupancy is one of the requirements a hotel needs to meet to receive the promised incentives from the city.
The Council previously agreed to extend the deadline from December 31, 2022 to August 31, 2023 and February 29, 2024. In February 2024, city councillors voted to extend the deadline until December 31, 2024.
Every three months or portion of the project extends past its date, or in part, $150,000 will be deducted from the city’s project’s $5.5 million incentive.
As of April 1st, the maximum redemption amount is currently $5.2 million.
Hotel Royer’s Liquor-License application will be approved at regular council meetings next week. Merlin said hotels require a local license to apply for a license with the state.
“I was there today,” she said. “That’s beautiful.”
