Topeka Development Corporation Board Summary
Week of July 8, 2026
Hotel Topeka sale scheduled to close July 14
Endeavor Hotel Group to purchase Hotel Topeka for $1 million, plans $6 million in upgrades
Endeavor Hotel Group nearing deal to manage Maner Conference Center
Endeavor Hotel Group expected to offer employment to current hotel staff
City to terminate contract with GF Hotels & Resorts
City expects return of surplus hotel operating funds
Shawnee County moves forward with sales tax exemption for hotel renovations
Kansas Board of Tax Appeals grants property tax exemption for city's hotel ownership
City seeking $260,000 property tax refund
Hotel Topeka sale scheduled to close July 14
TOPEKA, Kan. — The official sale of Hotel Topeka, located at 1717 SW Topeka Blvd., is scheduled to close on July 14, according to Topeka City Manager Robert Perez. Management teams from both the city's current contractor, GF Hotels & Resorts, and the buyer, Endeavor Hotel Group, plan to be on-site early next week to conduct joint inventory assessments of food and liquor to ensure a smooth transition of guests and assets before ownership officially changes hands.
Endeavor Hotel Group to purchase Hotel Topeka for $1 million, plans $6 million in upgrades
TOPEKA, Kan. — The purchase agreement for Hotel Topeka sets the final sales price at $1 million. The new ownership group, Endeavor Hotel Group, is planning an estimated $6 million in improvements to rehabilitate the property as it transitions from city ownership back into a for-profit enterprise, according to Endeavor President and CEO Roy Arnold.
Endeavor Hotel Group nearing deal to manage Maner Conference Center
SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — Endeavor Hotel Group is close to reaching a final agreement with Shawnee County to manage the adjacent Maner Conference Center. While negotiations are progressing positively, Topeka City Manager Robert Perez clarified Tuesday that finalizing the management agreement is not a required condition for the $1 million sale of the hotel to go through.
Endeavor Hotel Group expected to offer employment to current hotel staff
TOPEKA, Kan. — The vast majority of current Hotel Topeka employees are expected to be offered jobs under the new ownership group, Endeavor Hotel Group, alleviating concerns about sudden layoffs. According to Topeka City Manager Robert Perez, Endeavor President and CEO Roy Arnold plans to have the company communicate directly with workers in the coming days to help ensure continuity for the hotel's workforce.
City to terminate contract with GF Hotels & Resorts
TOPEKA, Kan. — The city will officially terminate its management contract with GF Hotels & Resorts on July 14, coinciding with the sale of Hotel Topeka. The city is required to pay a termination fee under the terms of the contract, though Topeka City Manager Robert Perez noted the penalty is lower because the termination was contractually triggered by the sale of the property, rather than being a standard termination without cause.
City expects return of surplus hotel operating funds
TOPEKA, Kan. — The city of Topeka expects to recoup remaining funds from the Hotel Topeka operating account within 60 to 90 days after the sale closes. Topeka City Manager Robert Perez stated the account currently holds a balance of over $400,000, and the city also plans to seek a 2½-month refund for pre-paid insurance premiums, with all remaining funds returning directly to city coffers once final expenses are settled.
Shawnee County moves forward with sales tax exemption for hotel renovations
SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. — Shawnee County is moving forward with a sales tax exemption certificate for Endeavor Hotel Group's planned $6 million in improvements to Hotel Topeka. The certificate waives the combined 9.35 percent state and local sales tax on construction materials, which Topeka City Manager Robert Perez noted will save Endeavor approximately $561,000 and provide significant capital for the building's rehabilitation.
Kansas Board of Tax Appeals grants property tax exemption for city's hotel ownership
TOPEKA, Kan. — After a 2½-year wait, the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals granted a property tax exemption to the city for its period of owning Hotel Topeka. Topeka City Manager Robert Perez confirmed the exemption will remain in place until the scheduled July 14 sale, at which point the property will become a taxable, for-profit entity once again.
City seeking $260,000 property tax refund
TOPEKA, Kan. — Armed with a recent ruling from the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals, the city of Topeka is pursuing a $260,000 real property tax refund from Shawnee County. Topeka City Manager Robert Perez said the requested refund covers property taxes paid to the county under the city's ownership of Hotel Topeka before the site was officially declared tax-exempt.
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