Groundbreaking Held for Landers Center Expansion and Embassy Suites Hotel
Photo: Groundbreaking held for the Landers Center expansion and Embassy Suites Hotel at the Southaven site. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — Local leaders and developers gathered Tuesday to celebrate the official groundbreaking for a major expansion at the Landers Center, marking the beginning of construction on DeSoto County’s first full-service Embassy Suites hotel and a state-of-the-art convention center.
The project, a partnership between the City of Southaven, DeSoto County Board of Supervisors, the DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), and developers Onyx Hospitality and WOW Resorts, is being hailed as one of the most significant economic development initiatives in the county’s history.
“This will be the most significant economic development project in the history of DeSoto County,” Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite told attendees. “It’s taken years of planning, collaboration, and perseverance to get to this day.”
A Long-Awaited Vision
The Landers Center first opened in December 2000, hosting events ranging from graduations and concerts to presidential visits. Calls for expansion began soon after, with feasibility studies showing demand for a convention center and on-site hotel to attract larger events and increase tourism revenue.
“This is the people’s building,” Supervisor Jessie Medlin said, recalling the decades-long journey. “The decisions made years ago gave us a gathering place for families and a symbol of what DeSoto County can accomplish when we work together.”
Supervisor Mark Gardner emphasized the return on investment for taxpayers, noting that much of the funding will come from the county’s 2% tourism tax. “This is about generational impact,” Gardner said. “Hundreds of jobs will be created, and the economic benefits will ripple through our community for years to come.”
It is expected there will be 150 events held in year one of the expansion, bringing an annual economic impact of approximately $35 million. The first year of the expansion is also expected to create 340 new jobs.
Embassy Suites by Hilton to Anchor Expansion
The centerpiece of the project is a seven-story Embassy Suites by Hilton, featuring 240 suites, a 200,000-square-foot footprint, and family-focused amenities. Highlights include an indoor pool, an outdoor lazy river with cabanas, a 10,000-square-foot restaurant space, and approximately 60–70% two-room suites designed to accommodate both corporate travelers and families.
“This is not just another hotel,” said Nilesh Patel of Onyx Hospitality. “It’s the first Embassy Suites convention hotel in Mississippi and a true resort experience that will transform Southaven’s tourism landscape.”
Hilton executives praised the market potential of DeSoto County. “We’ve monitored this market for years, and it was clear that a full-service hotel like Embassy Suites was missing,” said Frank McFadden of Hilton. “This property will be a perfect fit for the region.”
Economic Catalyst for Southaven
City officials said the expansion and hotel will draw major conventions, sporting events, and entertainment acts that previously bypassed the region. The project is expected to generate hundreds of jobs, millions in tourism revenue, and spur surrounding development once the nearby interstate widening is complete.
“Our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren will benefit from what we’re doing here today,” Musselwhite said. “This is not just about a building. It’s about building Southaven’s future.”
The Embassy Suites hotel and convention center expansion are projected to open within the next two years.
