Renderings via City of New Orleans

Real estate developer Mike Vira has plans to build three new hotels near the airport.  He is asking the City of Kenner to impose new taxes to help him pay for them.

According to Vira, the hotels would total $40 million and 350 keys under 3 flags.

The first is a 110-key Holiday Inn, and it’s already under construction.

The second is a Hyatt Place hotel, which would be about another 110 keys.  This should break ground next year.

The third is a planned 130-room Marriott Courtyard, which would break ground in 2017.

Spurring the development is the brand new $826 million airport terminal, scheduled to open in 2018.

Vira says that the hotels will create 250 jobs, and he wants 90% of them to be Kenner residents.

He is seeking a tax increment financing district from the city, similar to what they gave the Target department store in the Esplanade mall.  Vira wants an additional $.02 on sales tax, which could generate roughly $185,000 per year according to theJefferson Economic Development Commission.