Having a large convention center is no longer always enough to compete for international events. For organizations hosting thousands of participants, the number of hotel rooms close to the convention center, ease of transportation, and the ability to accommodate large groups within the same area are becoming increasingly important factors in destination selection.
Detroit is preparing to expand its accommodation capacity within this equation. More than 1,600 new hotel rooms are planned for the downtown area, with the investments expected to support convention activity particularly around Huntington Place.
New Hotels Will Begin Opening in 2027
One of the largest additions will be JW Marriott Detroit Water Square. The 25-story hotel rising along the Detroit River is scheduled to open in February 2027 with 601 rooms. The property will be directly connected to Huntington Place Convention Center by a pedestrian bridge. The hotel will add more than accommodation capacity alone. JW Marriott Detroit Water Square will include 17 meeting rooms and approximately 4,900 square meters of event space. Its largest meeting space will cover around 1,500 square meters.
Other developments scheduled to open in 2027 include the 227-room The Detroit EDITION and the approximately 180-room NoMad Detroit. Together, these projects will bring a significant share of the city’s new luxury accommodation supply online within a relatively short period.
The Distance Between the Convention Center and Hotels Is Becoming a Competitive Factor
One of Detroit’s key advantages is the scale of Huntington Place. The convention center has extensive exhibition halls and numerous meeting spaces capable of hosting large events. However, in major congresses, not only the capacity inside the venue but also how close participants can stay to the convention center can influence organizing decisions.
During peak periods, around 3,000 hotel rooms in downtown Detroit can be allocated to events, while capacity in the immediate vicinity of the convention center stands at approximately 1,800 rooms. This makes hotels directly connected to Huntington Place increasingly important, particularly for events bringing thousands of participants into the city at the same time. JW Marriott’s direct connection to Huntington Place is also significant in this respect. Allowing participants to move between their hotel and the convention center without using vehicles can simplify transportation planning and group operations for large events.
A Second Major Convention Hotel Is Also Planned
Detroit’s accommodation investments are not limited to properties opening in 2027. Preparations are also underway for a second major hotel with approximately 600 rooms near Huntington Place. The roughly $450 million development is planned as the second large hotel directly connected to the convention center. Site work is expected to begin in 2027, with opening targeted for 2029. This will further expand accommodation capacity for large groups around Huntington Place. The investment model shows that Detroit is not simply adding more hotel rooms, but is attempting to position new capacity directly around its major event infrastructure.
Major Events Are Supporting Demand for New Hotels
Detroit has made its event capacity more visible in recent years through large-scale events. The 2024 NFL Draft attracted more than 775,000 visitors over three days, demonstrating the volume of demand that major events can generate for the city. Demand on the convention side is also continuing. Detroit’s meetings and conventions team booked events in 2025 that generated approximately 185,000 hotel room nights. The city has also already added several major events scheduled for the coming years to its calendar.
This picture shows that the new hotel investments are being developed not only to meet tourism demand, but also to improve Detroit’s ability to win larger meetings and conventions during the bidding process.
