How Much Does a 300 Room Hotel Cost to Build? Complete 2026 Budget Guide

A comprehensive breakdown of 300-room hotel construction costs from $60M select-service properties to $150M+ luxury destinations, including financing strategies and hidden expenses

By Clear House Lending Team | Published February 2, 2026 | 11 min read

Building a 300-room hotel represents a major commercial real estate investment, with total project costs typically ranging from $60 million to $150 million or more depending on brand tier, location, and amenities. At this scale, you're developing a significant hospitality asset that requires sophisticated financing, experienced development teams, and careful budget planning.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of what it actually costs to build a 300-room hotel in today's market. Whether you're evaluating a select-service property in a secondary market or a full-service convention hotel in a major city, you'll find the cost framework and financing insights you need to plan accurately.

300-Room Hotel Construction Costs by Tier (2026)

Why 300 Rooms? Understanding This Development Sweet Spot

A 300-room hotel occupies an important position in the hospitality development landscape. This size offers several strategic advantages:

Operational Efficiency: 300 rooms provides the critical mass needed to support full-service amenities, including restaurants, meeting space, and recreational facilities, while maintaining efficient staffing ratios. Properties below 200 rooms often struggle to justify full-service operations economically.

Financing Accessibility: At $60-150 million, a 300-room hotel falls within the lending capacity of most commercial construction lenders while remaining attractive to institutional investors and debt funds. Larger projects may require more complex capital stacks.

Brand Positioning: Most major full-service hotel brands target 250-400 rooms as their ideal new-build size. A 300-room property meets brand prototype requirements while allowing market-specific customization.

Convention and Group Business: Properties with 300+ rooms and proportional meeting space can compete for regional conventions, corporate meetings, and group business that smaller hotels cannot accommodate.

300-Room Hotel Budget Distribution

Understanding how your $60-150 million budget allocates across categories helps identify optimization opportunities and ensures no cost category is overlooked.

Hard Construction Costs (50-55% of Budget)

Hard costs represent the largest expense category, covering all physical construction from foundation to finishes.

Construction Cost Ranges for 300-Room Hotels:

• Select-service: $280-$350 per square foot
• Full-service: $350-$450 per square foot
• Upper upscale: $450-$550 per square foot
• Luxury: $550-$750+ per square foot

For a 300-room full-service hotel averaging 650 square feet per room (including corridors, public spaces, and back-of-house allocated), that's approximately 195,000 gross square feet. At $350-$450 per square foot, hard construction runs $68-88 million.

Key Hard Cost Variables:

• Building type: High-rise (12+ stories) costs 20-30% more than mid-rise podium construction
• Union vs. non-union: Union labor markets add 15-25% to construction costs
• Foundation conditions: Poor soil conditions or high water tables increase foundation costs significantly
• Amenity scope: Full-service kitchens, pools, spas, and fitness centers add substantial cost

Land Acquisition (10-12% of Budget)

Land costs for a 300-room hotel site vary dramatically by market:

Secondary Markets: $8-15 million for 2-4 acre sites with good visibility and access

Primary Markets: $15-30 million for similar sites in gateway cities

Urban Core: $25-50+ million for land in downtown locations of major metros

Key Site Requirements:

• 2.5-5 acres for surface parking, 1-2 acres for structured parking
• Highway visibility and convenient access
• Proximity to demand generators (convention centers, business districts, attractions)
• Adequate utility infrastructure
• Hotel-friendly zoning or reasonable entitlement path

Explore our hotel and motel financing solutions for properties of all sizes.

FF&E Costs (10-12% of Budget)

Furniture, fixtures, and equipment for a 300-room property requires significant capital:

Guest Room FF&E Per Room:

• Select-service: $18,000-$25,000 ($5.4M-$7.5M total)
• Full-service: $30,000-$45,000 ($9M-$13.5M total)
• Upper upscale: $45,000-$65,000 ($13.5M-$19.5M total)
• Luxury: $65,000-$100,000+ ($19.5M-$30M+ total)

Public Area FF&E Includes:

• Lobby and lounge furniture ($500,000-$2M)
• Restaurant and bar fixtures ($1M-$4M for full-service)
• Meeting room furnishings ($500,000-$1.5M)
• Pool and recreation equipment ($200,000-$800,000)
• Fitness center ($150,000-$500,000)
• Spa equipment if applicable ($500,000-$2M)

Back-of-House Equipment:

• Commercial kitchen (full-service): $2M-$5M
• Laundry facility: $500,000-$1.5M
• Maintenance and engineering: $200,000-$500,000
• Technology infrastructure: $1M-$2.5M

Soft Costs (10-14% of Budget)

Professional services and fees scale with project complexity:

Architecture and Engineering (5-7% of hard costs):

• Full architectural services: $3M-$5M
• Structural engineering: $500,000-$1M
• MEP engineering: $800,000-$1.5M
• Interior design: $1.5M-$4M
• Landscape architecture: $200,000-$500,000

Permits and Impact Fees (varies by jurisdiction):

• Building permits: $500,000-$2M
• Impact fees: $1M-$4M in high-fee jurisdictions
• Utility connections: $500,000-$1.5M

Third-Party Reports and Studies ($300,000-$600,000):

• Market feasibility study
• Appraisal
• Phase I/II environmental
• Geotechnical investigation
• Traffic study
• ALTA survey

Legal, Accounting, Insurance ($800,000-$2M):

• Entity formation and governance
• Loan documentation
• Construction contracts
• Franchise agreement negotiation
• Project insurance during construction

Learn about vertical construction financing for complex hotel projects requiring specialized expertise.

Financing Costs (3-5% of Budget)

Construction financing for a 300-room hotel carries substantial costs:

Loan Fees:

• Origination fee: 1-2% of loan amount ($700,000-$1.4M on $70M loan)
• Commitment fee: 0.25-0.5%
• Extension fees if needed: 0.5-1%

Interest Reserve:

• 24-30 month construction period
• Average outstanding balance: 60% of total commitment
• At 9% interest: $7.5-$10M interest carry on $70M loan

Permanent Loan Costs:

• Rate lock deposits
• Appraisal and legal fees
• Title insurance on $70M+ loans: $200,000-$400,000

Pre-Opening and Contingency (8-12% of Budget)

Pre-Opening Expenses (3-4% of project cost):

• Executive team hiring (6-9 months before opening): $1M-$2M
• Staff recruitment and training (300-400 employees): $2M-$4M
• Sales and marketing launch: $1M-$2M
• Opening inventory: $500,000-$1M
• Technology setup and testing: $500,000-$1M
• Soft opening operations: $500,000-$1M

Contingency Reserve (10-15% of hard costs):

• Recommended: $7M-$12M for a $70M hard cost budget
• Material cost escalation
• Design changes and unforeseen conditions
• Weather delays
• Supply chain disruptions

Cost Breakdown by Brand Tier

Let's examine detailed budgets for a 300-room hotel at different positioning levels.

Select-Service Hotel (300 rooms): $60-75 Million

Example: Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Hyatt Place

Target Market: Business travelers, small groups, leisure guests seeking quality lodging without full-service amenities.

Detailed Budget:

Key Characteristics:

• Limited food service (breakfast only, market pantry)
• Basic meeting space (2,000-4,000 SF)
• Fitness center, pool
• Mid-rise construction (4-7 stories)
• Efficient room layouts (325-375 SF)

Full-Service Hotel (300 rooms): $90-120 Million

Example: Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton, Hyatt Regency

Target Market: Convention groups, corporate meetings, leisure travelers seeking full amenities and dining options.

Detailed Budget:

Key Characteristics:

• Full-service restaurant and bar
• Room service capabilities
• 15,000-25,000 SF meeting/banquet space
• Pool, fitness center, potential spa
• Concierge and valet services
• Larger rooms (375-450 SF)

Upper Upscale Hotel (300 rooms): $120-150 Million

Example: JW Marriott, Conrad, Waldorf Astoria Collection

Target Market: Luxury-oriented business and leisure travelers, upscale groups, special occasions.

Detailed Budget:

Key Characteristics:

• Multiple dining venues including signature restaurant
• Full spa and wellness facilities
• Executive lounge and club level
• 25,000-40,000 SF premium meeting space
• Luxury finishes throughout
• Larger rooms (425-500 SF)

Use our commercial mortgage calculator to model financing scenarios for your 300-room hotel project.

Equity and Financing Requirements

A 300-room hotel requires substantial capital. Understanding financing structures helps determine how much cash you actually need.

Conventional Construction Loans (25-30% Equity)

Most experienced developers finance 300-room hotels with conventional construction loans requiring 25-30% equity.

Example: $90 Million Full-Service Hotel

• Equity requirement: $22.5M-$27M
• Construction loan: $63M-$67.5M
• Interest rate: 8-10% (floating)
• Term: 36 months with extensions

Advantages: Competitive rates, flexible terms, relationship-based decisions

Requirements: Proven hotel development experience, strong personal guarantees, experienced operator

Senior Debt + Mezzanine (15-20% True Equity)

Layered debt structures can reduce equity requirements for experienced developers:

Example: $90 Million Project

• Senior construction loan (65% LTC): $58.5M
• Mezzanine debt (15-20% LTC): $13.5M-$18M
• Equity (15-20%): $13.5M-$18M

Mezzanine Terms:

• Rate: 12-16%
• Fees: 2-3% origination
• Subordinate to senior debt

Trade-off: Higher overall cost of capital in exchange for reduced equity requirement.

Life Insurance Company Financing

For stabilized refinancing or construction-to-perm structures:

Typical Terms:

• Loan-to-cost: 60-65%
• Interest rate: 6.5-7.5% fixed
• Term: 10-15 years
• Amortization: 25-30 years

Life companies offer the best long-term rates but require substantial equity and conservative underwriting.

Capital Stack Considerations

Most 300-room hotel developments involve multiple capital sources:

Developer Equity: 5-10% of total (demonstrates commitment)

Investor Equity: 10-20% of total (high-net-worth individuals, family offices, private equity)

Senior Debt: 60-70% of total

Subordinate Debt (optional): 10-20% (mezzanine, preferred equity)

Development Timeline

Understanding the timeline helps project financing costs and overall budget accuracy.

Phase 1: Pre-Development (6-12 months)

• Site identification and acquisition
• Market feasibility analysis
• Brand selection and franchise negotiation
• Conceptual design
• Initial equity assembly

Phase 2: Entitlements and Design (6-9 months)

• Zoning and land use approvals
• Design development
• Construction document preparation
• General contractor selection

Phase 3: Financing (4-6 months)

• Construction loan application
• Underwriting and due diligence
• Loan closing

Phase 4: Construction (18-30 months)

• 18-22 months for mid-rise construction
• 24-30 months for high-rise or complex sites
• Monthly draw process
• Ongoing lender inspections

Phase 5: Pre-Opening (2-3 months)

• Staff hiring and training
• Systems testing
• Soft opening
• Grand opening

Total Timeline: 36-48 months from site acquisition to opening

Hidden Costs That Impact Your Budget

Beyond the major categories, several expenses frequently exceed initial projections:

Franchise Costs Add Up

• Initial fee: $75,000-$150,000
• Application and training fees: $25,000-$50,000
• Ongoing royalties: 5-6% of room revenue
• Marketing fees: 2.5-4% of room revenue
• Reservation fees: 2-4% of bookings

20-Year Franchise Cost: $30-50 million in fees on a successful 300-room hotel

Interest During Extended Construction

A 300-room hotel takes longer to build than smaller properties. Every month of delay adds:

• $450,000-$600,000 in interest on a $65M construction loan at 9%
• Six-month delays are common, adding $2.7-3.6M to the budget

Ramp-Up Operating Losses

New hotels don't achieve profitability immediately:

• Year 1: 50-60% occupancy, likely operating losses of $2-4M
• Year 2: 60-70% occupancy, breakeven to modest profit
• Year 3: Stabilized operations at 70-75% occupancy

Budget reserves to cover 12-18 months of debt service during ramp-up.

Property Tax Reassessment

Upon completion, your $90M hotel will be reassessed at market value. Annual property taxes of $1.5-2.5M (depending on jurisdiction) begin immediately, regardless of occupancy levels.

Working with Clear House Lending

Financing a 300-room hotel requires lender expertise in hospitality development, complex capital structures, and construction risk management. Clear House Lending has financed hundreds of hotel projects from limited-service properties to major convention hotels.

Our Hotel Financing Solutions

Construction Loans: Competitive terms for experienced developers with 25-30% equity

Construction-to-Permanent: Single-close financing eliminating refinance risk at stabilization

Mezzanine and Preferred Equity: Fill capital stack gaps for qualified borrowers

Bridge Financing: Flexible solutions for acquisition-renovation or complex transitions

Start Your 300-Room Hotel Project

Ready to develop a major hospitality asset? Here's how to begin:

1. Initial consultation: Contact our team to discuss your project concept, site, and capital position

2. Preliminary analysis: We'll provide feedback on financing feasibility and likely terms based on your project summary

3. Term sheet: Qualified projects receive preliminary terms within 10-14 business days

4. Full underwriting: Complete applications with experienced sponsors typically close in 75-120 days

Building a 300-room hotel is a substantial undertaking requiring $60-150 million depending on positioning and location. The right financing partner makes the difference between a successful project and one that stalls in development.

Contact Clear House Lending today to discuss your 300-room hotel project with an experienced hospitality financing specialist. Apply now to start the process and receive a preliminary assessment of your project's financing options.

Tags: 300 room hotel cost, hotel construction budget, full-service hotel development, hospitality construction financing

Category: Construction Lending Guides

Last Updated: February 2, 2026