COVINGTON- City of Covington and Royal Hotel Investment Officials broke ground on the city’s newest hotel project, a Holiday Inn Express & Suites Friday.

“What a fantastic day this is for the City of Covington,” Mayor Ronnie Johnston said. “This addition to our city means new jobs for our residents and additional tax dollars that will be used for improvements around the city. This hotel also gives guests travelling to Covington a state-of-the-art place to stay when they visit that we can all be very proud of.”

The hotel represents an investment of nearly $13 million and is slated to open in November, 2016. Amenities will include a business center, fitness center, outdoor swimming pool, 400 square-foot board room, 1,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, guest laundry and an expansive outdoor patio with two fire pits.

“We have been active members of the Covington community since 2006 and are eager to start building this newest addition,” said Navin Shah, Chairman of Royal Hotel Investment. “We proudly own and operate properties that are important local resources for both travelers and residents — places where business gets done and where memories are created by families, companies and civic groups.”

The new hotel will be located at the intersection of Lochridge Road and Paras Drive just off of Interstate 20 and will feature architecture similar to the existing Hampton Inn located adjacent to the new Holiday Inn Express & Suites.

“Our exceptional team of architects, designers, vendors, construction specialists and hospitality professionals will work in close partnership to create a distinctive property that implements brand standards while maintaining a unique Southern touch,” Shah said.