Courtyard Marriot Groundbreaking Ceremony

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 We wondered if we'd ever read the story.

Back in 1988, Wilson World Hotel was the first inn to take up residence next to the Pine Bluff Convention Center.

But over time, the hotel was cared for less and less, and eventually, the convention center found itself chained at the ankle to a dying -- and eventually dead -- hotel. 

 (PINE BLUFF) KATV — The Pine Bluff Convention Center will once again get a hotel adjacent to the building. It was formerly known as the Plaza Hotel and nearly empty for 10 years, but will now be occupied by the Marriott Courtyard.

Joseph McCorvey is the executive director for the Pine Bluff Convention Center. He told KATV this move as been more than four years in the making and calls this a historic opportunity.

 Marriott Hotels will construct a new Courtyard by Marriott at the location of the old Plaza Hotel next to the Pine Bluff Convention Center, a city official announced Wednesday.

Joseph McCorvey, executive director of the Civic Auditorium Complex Commission (CACC) and the Convention Center, shared the news with commissioners inside the arena boardroom. 

The City of Pine Bluff has plans for a new 125-room hotel with a name you might be familiar with signed up to take over.