Pullman can expect two new hotel additions within the year, offering up to 122 additional rooms in two separate projects. Pullman is the third-fastest growing city in Eastern Washington, according to the City Planning Department, so it’s not surprising more lodging options are looking this way.

Both Courtside Marriott and Hilltop Inn have applied to begin construction this summer, filing to the City of Pullman Planning Department in November 2015.

Described in Courtside Marriott’s plan is a four-story structure, with a main level restaurant and café open to guests and the public. Their proposal also includes an outdoor swimming pool. The current Marriott Residence Inn hotel has 131 rooms; to which they lease the site from the university on a 99-year agreement with an escalating schedule of payments.

Building more rooms would alleviate the current load placed on pre-existing hotels that book out weeks and sometimes months in advance for events like the Apple Cup, graduation, Mom’s and Dad’s Weekends and more.

“We’re always booked for events like Homecoming, the Apple Cup,” said Rebecca Swearingen, a front desk manager at the Hilltop Inn. “Mom’s weekend, Graduation, all fill up a year in advance.”

Both applications are currently under review, said City of Pullman Planning Director Pete Dickinson.

“The city has expressed interest that we have enough hotel rooms over the years, however we rely on the free market to decide when and where is best,” he said. “It’s a tough market in a college town for hotels, some weekends are packed for events and it’s hard to find a room, and then the summer months, maybe not so much.”

Hilltop Inn’s request form listed a construction start date of July 2016, however their proposal does not specify whether they plan to build additional guest rooms or apartment-like living spaces.

“It’s a little unusual for an applicant not to specify how they’ll be using the rooms,” Dickinson said. “They’re most likely waiting for the market to decide how to use the space.”

Hilltop Inn also applied to build an additional parking lot across the street from their current location.

Dickinson was not surprised to see these applications reach his department.

“Three to four years ago, WSU laid the groundwork to open up the space for commercial use, where the current Marriott hotel is,” he said.

Residence Marriott built the first hotel down the street from the Rec Center in 2014, on land dedicated by the university.

Last year, the site across from the current structure was leveled with another hotel in mind.

Dickinson believes after the review process, Courtside Marriott will begin work during construction season this year, between May and October.