VIDALIA — The City of Vidalia is soliciting bids to begin property improvements in advance of a new hotel being built on the Vidalia Riverfront.

The hotel — a 51,000-square foot, three-story structure with 90 guest rooms — will be a TownePlace Suites by Marriott, and will be owned and operated by Desai Hotel Group. It has been characterized as an extended-stay hotel.

Desai already owns the Holiday Inn Express in Natchez, and has leased 3.7 acres on the Vidalia Riverfront since July 2014. The lease agreement calls for annual payments of $33,000 an acre for five years for the right to use the land — which is south of Promise Hospital — for 99 years.

The city started advertising for bids this week for parking, drainage and other infrastructure improvements on the Riverfront in connection with the project.

The public improvements are being financed through a Tax-Increment Financing agreement. In TIF arrangements, the city provides some infrastructure support upfront, and the debt for the project is financed with the project’s future property tax revenues.

A city spokesperson said the estimated cost for the city’s part of the project would be $773,450. Bids will formally be opened March 29.

“We have enjoyed working with the City of Vidalia to develop a new hotel on the Vidalia Riverfront,” Desai Hotel Group President and Chief Executive Officer Sunny Desai said in a news release.  “The partnership with the town in making this project a reality has proven the positive business environment Vidalia has created and sustained.”

Weather permitting, dirt will be turning on the project in early spring, Desai said.

Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said the city is pleased with the project the Desai Group has presented the city.

“We feel that the TownePlace Suites will be a great fit for the Vidalia Riverfront,” he said.

“This extended stay hotel will complement Promise Hospital and Riverpark Medical Center.  It will also provide additional rooms to allow the Convention Center to capture more Louisiana conferences and will fill the hotel room void we are seeing as a result of the state, regional and national ball tournaments Vidalia is hosting at the recreational complex.

“The design of the property will highlight the beauty of our Riverfront development, and I feel everyone will enjoy having TownePlace Suites and the Desai Hotel Group as our newest neighbor.”