BEATRICE – A southeast Nebraska economic development organization contracted for a study of lodging needs back in 2017. Now the same group, partnering with other business organizations, is undertaking a new study which looks at the potential for upper-scale hotel chains that may be looking to expand.


Gage Area Growth Enterprise, known as NGage…used a study years ago that helped draw an extended-stay hotel…..called MyPlace….to north Beatrice.
Now, NGage Executive Director Rachel Kreikemeier says the organization, partnering with the Beatrice Area Chamber and Gage County Tourism, is working with a Minnesota-Wisconsin area consultant, on the need for more hotel rooms.

"We're learning from the traveling ball clubs when we host tons of softball and baseball tournaments in the summer, there's nowhere to stay. They're staying in Lincoln....or teams this last summer were choosing not to come because there's nowhere to stay. We would see campgrounds full. We're seeing the same thing with workforce shortages, so what are they doing? They're buying up all these hotel rooms, Air BnBs, even the Rice Lodge (in Odell) is getting asked to be bought out for months at a time for their workers to come and stay.... because rental homes aren't available and motels are just jam packed."


A target range for developers to consider new lodging development is from 75 to 85 rooms…which also brings the potential of being accompanied by related commercial business. Kreikemeier said, "These mid to upper scale chains...oftentimes when you have the room availability of 75 to 85....some of these developers, will not develop a hotel unless they can hit 75 to 85 rooms. That's kind of their go, no go. Those brands often come associated with some sort of restaurant, on-site bar...a combination of the two....maybe even a small conference room or business center that people can rent out, similar to what the Holiday Inn has...in that event venue space."


Kreikemeier says the public has been heard, loud and clear, over the past years on the need for more restaurant availability.


As for where new lodging space could be built, the new study points primarily toward two areas……downtown Beatrice….and North U.S. Highway 77 near existing lodging. "Often, people refer to Highway 77 north of downtown as food alley. There's a lot of tourism that happens in that area.....that's just kind of fishing in a bucket, I guess", Kreikemeier said.


This study has raised the potential of attracting well known lodging firms considered mid-to-upper scale. "We don't want to segregate ourselves to a specific brand, not fully knowing what opportunities we have out there, available. There could be one ready and waiting to come into a community the size of Beatrice and expand their brand...that doesn't exist in the area. We would love to explore that opportunity."


Kreikemeier says discussions will continue to be held with developers and motel and hotel chains about potential future projects.