Two days ago, Parx Casino, owned and managed by Greenwood Racing Inc., received approval from Bensalem Township Council to continue with plans to construct a deluxe hotel on Street Road, Bensalem.

However before the hotel plans, first came the horse racing course and then the casino.

Planned steps for construction:

After more than a decade of plans to build a hotel on Street Road and having finally received the necessary approval, planning for the next steps has now begun.

In this regard, foundation construction is scheduled to begin later this year and the hotel is projected to be completed in 2025. Parx officials shared details regarding next steps with the Bensalem Township Council at a meeting Monday night.

Commenting on the plans for the hotel, Mike Meginniss, legal counsel for the Parx Casino Hotel project, said: “A hotel has always been a part of Parx casino’s plans. This is a natural evolution of the site.”

Layout of the proposed Parx Casino Hotel:

The proposed 13-story hotel will involve 11 floors of guest accommodation comprising 300 guest rooms. Furthermore, the newest boardwalk will link the newest hotel to the existing casino.

It will also have a restaurant in the lobby and one more on the roof, each with 300 seats. The restaurant will have a show kitchen where invited chefs will prepare meals and present specific presentations.

The top floors will consist of a presidential suite and 4 other top suites.

Commenting on the suites, the developers said: “It will offer unobstructed views of the Philadelphia skyline.”

A spa, cafe and fitness center round out the amenities.

However, the hotel will have no branding and will carry the “Parx Casino Hotel” label.

In this regard, Parx officials said: “Architects will use Marriott as a brand standard in terms of planning and outfitting its new hotel.”

Moreover, every restaurant will offer in-house service without branding.

Banquets and weddings as the main target group:

Throughout a presentation to the Bensalem Township Council, Joxn Dixon, Chief Operating Officer at Parx Casino, said: “The 14,000-square-foot banquet hall will have a capacity of 800, making it suitable for weddings, business conferences and small exhibits.

“The rooms can be subdivided, given event requirements.”

He also emphasized that “due to its size, Parx Casino Hotel will not compete with the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia for national conventions such as the auto show or flower show.”

In this regard, he added: “We don’t have space for those. This is more for local and regional meetings.

“We’re not in that league (for national conventions), but it will be a good spot for people to have meetings and gatherings.”

However, the hotel will not be age-restricted like the casino.

Commenting on this, Mr. Dixon said: “This will allow operators to also market Parx Casino Hotel to youth-based groups and family friendly organizations.”

Parx Casino site features years-long history of Keystone Raceway:

A month after the official opening of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Parx Casino opened as Philadelphia Park on December 19, 2006.

It was the second casino in Pennsylvania.

Furthermore, the Bensalem site, not far from Philadelphia and near the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 95, has long been a regional draw, changing hands several times since 1974, when it was then known as Keystone Racetrack.

High revenue:

Parx Casino collected $55.46 million in profit in January 2023, compared to $51.81 million in profit earned in January 2022, representing a profit growth of 7.03% over the previous year, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission.

It was the third highest-grossing casino in Pennsylvania, where gaming is a lucrative business. In 2022, Pennsylvania’s 16 casinos collected a combined income of $5.21 billion, compared to $4.73 billion in 2021, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Parx Casino’s profits also finance Bensalem’s $300 Home Assistance Grant, which Bensalem Mayor Joe DiGirolamo said: “Bensalem homeowners will continue to receive in 2023.”

Parx also hires about 2,000 workers, making it the flagship employer in Bucks County.