‘Important investment‘: New Home2 Suites by Hilton planned for Henry County
The proposed hotel will help address a longstanding need for additional quality accommodations in Martinsville and Henry County, where visitors frequently seek lodging in neighboring communities because of limited availability and the quality of existing options, officials said. (Credit: Deputy County Administrator for Henry County)
COLLINSVILLE, Va. (WSET) —As race fans arrive in the region for NASCAR weekend, Henry County officials are announcing plans for a new 99-room Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel near Martinsville Speedway.
The proposed hotel will help address a longstanding need for additional quality accommodations in Martinsville and Henry County, where visitors frequently seek lodging in neighboring communities because of limited availability and the quality of existing options, officials said.
Its location near Martinsville Speedway and the Smith River Sports Complex is expected to strengthen the area’s ability to accommodate visitors attending sporting events, races, and other activities while encouraging more overnight stays within the community, according to officials.
“This is an important investment in Henry County and our ability to attract visitors, support local businesses and strengthen our economy,” said Jim Adams, Chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors. “With NASCAR, sporting events and outdoor recreation bringing people to our area, additional quality lodging will help us better serve visitors and create more opportunities for local businesses.”
According to officials, there is a significant unmet lodging demand in the Martinsville-Henry County area. Approximately 62% of lodging demand is leaking to surrounding markets, meaning visitors who could otherwise stay locally are securing accommodations elsewhere. The limited supply and inconsistent quality of existing lodging have presented challenges for event organizers seeking to attract larger events and accommodate visiting teams, families and spectators.
The hotel is expected to complement the area’s established tourism and recreation assets, particularly the Monogram Foods Smith River Sports Complex, which attracts teams, athletes, families and spectators for tournaments and other events throughout the year, officials said.
“Tourism is an important part of our regional economy, and quality lodging is essential to maximizing the impact of the attractions and events we already have,” said Mark Heath, Director of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation. “This hotel will give visitors another appealing option when they come to our area, while helping us strengthen our ability to attract tournaments, sporting events and other activities that bring people here to stay, dine, shop and experience everything Martinsville and Henry County have to offer.”
Officials said in addition to leisure and sports-related travel, there is demand from business travelers associated with the region’s industrial and employment centers, including Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre and Patriot Centre Industrial Park. The addition of a new hotel is expected to provide another option for executives, contractors, technicians, vendors and other professionals visiting the area.
“Henry County has a clear need for additional lodging options that meet the expectations of today’s travelers,” said County Administrator Dale Wagoner. “Our existing hotels serve an important role, but the data indicates that we are losing a significant amount of potential lodging demand to surrounding communities. A new, nationally recognized hotel will help address that gap, give visitors more choices and better position our community to accommodate the business and tourism activity that supports local economic growth.”
Chetan Uka, Jay Shah and Neil Amin of Shamin Hotels are the developers for the project. Uka said the Home2 Suites by Hilton brand will bring another lodging option to the local market, officials said.
“We are excited about the opportunity to bring Home2 Suites by Hilton to Henry County,” said Uka. “We believe the location and the strength of the Hilton extended stay brand will make this a valuable addition to the community, serving visitors to Martinsville Speedway, the Smith River Sports Complex and the area’s growing business community.”
According to officials, the addition of the 99-room all-suite hotel represents an opportunity to retain more visitor spending locally, provide spacious accommodations for event participants and business travelers, and further strengthen Martinsville and Henry County as a destination for recreation, tourism and economic development.
Construction is expected to begin by the end of the year and be ready to welcome guests by Spring 2028, officials said.
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