The city of Palmetto could soon become a travel destination for visitors all over the state and country.

For the first time in its history, a major hotel could be coming to the area, bringing opportunities with it.

“Our community has a void,” said Elliott Falcione, the Executive Director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.  “We need more full service hotels. The economy is strong, we need bed stock, and we feel the time is now for that hotel developer to build there.”

Palmetto city leaders and Manatee County leaders are working together to try and bring a large hotel to the area.

The plans are to have the hotel built next to the Bradenton Area Convention Center, on the 13 acres where it sits near the Manatee River.

Falcione said the hotel would need to have a minimum of 200 rooms to accommodate what they’re hoping for.

He said it would be great for local events, and attract more conventions to the area as well as visitors.

Also excited about the idea is Shirley Groover Bryant, the Mayor of Palmetto. She said in order for the hotel to come, the land has to be rezoned.

City leaders are now working on trying to change the land from public to a planned community zone.

“It’s not a type of housing or anything like that, it’s really for a type of hotel or enhancement that would really help to embellish and grow what’s already here at the civic center,” said Bryant.   

Once it’s rezoned, this would open the doors for hotels to start bidding for the spot.

“We think it’s going to be such a nice thing for the city of Palmetto,” said Bryant.  “We’re hoping it will add jobs and will help our economy.  We’ve already done so much, we’d be happy to add one more thing.”

Bryant thinks the hotel would bring more businesses to the area and attract more restaurants and possibly some new hotels.

The Palmetto City Commission will hold a workshop on the zoning change on September 22.

They will then hold a special meeting to vote on the change on September 29.

If the zoning change is approved, hotel buds could start coming in by the first of the year.