A Denver hospitality heavyweight is betting big on Gypsum, rolling ahead with plans for a 140-room, dual-branded Hilton hotel just off I-70 near Eagle County Regional Airport. The new build pairs a Hampton Inn & Suites with a Home2 Suites and is slated to bring meeting space, an indoor pool, and a two-story lobby pouring local beer and wine, with developers targeting an early 2028 finish.
According to Town of Gypsum planning documents, the project will split its 140 rooms between a 62-room Hampton Inn & Suites, which includes 22 king suites, and a 78-room Home2 Suites outfitted with in-room kitchens geared toward extended stays. Plans call for roughly 1,100 square feet of meeting space, complimentary hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool, and an outdoor deck with firepits. The hotel is set to be operated by Crestline Hotels & Resorts.
Who’s Behind It
Town planning filings list the developer as Gypsum Hotel Partners and name Denver hospitality veteran Chris Manley and local developer Bryan Desmond as the project leads, detailing the scope of work and requested variances. The same Town of Gypsum documents show the team pursuing Hilton approvals for both brands. Manley, who recently acquired and renovated the 133-room AC Hotel by Marriott in Frisco, has been active in regional hotel development, according to CCD Magazine.
Money And Partners
Manley and Desmond have teamed up with ArrowMark Partners to capitalize the project, with developers stating that construction financing will come from FirstBank, now part of PNC. PNC confirms it completed its acquisition of FirstBank in January 2026. "We are thrilled to announce one of the first new hotels down valley in more than 25 years," Manley said in filings quoted by MileHighCRE.
Local Impact
The project site was marketed and sold last year, with property records identifying the lot as 215 Lindbergh Drive in the Airport Gateway Business Center. Vail Luxury Real Estate records show the commercial parcel changed hands in mid-2025. The location sits only minutes from Eagle County Regional Airport, which serves the Vail Valley, per iFly.
Approvals And Timeline
Developers have requested a height variance to 55 feet to fit Hilton’s signature brand elements, along with a special-use permit that would cap the number of rooms allowed for long-term lodging, according to the town filings. Those same planning documents anticipate a construction start in late Q1 2026 and a projected completion in Q4 2027, with a request that the permit remain valid through February 28, 2028.
The project still needs town sign-offs and utility relocations before any shovels hit the dirt. Developers have also asked for lot-line adjustments as part of the entitlement package. We will keep an eye on upcoming planning meetings and public filings as the hotel proposal works its way through Gypsum’s approval process.
