Opening target moves to early 2027
The 45-room River Market Hotel is planned for the 1880 building at 415 Delaware St. in Kansas City. When the project launched in December 2025, the Kansas City Star reported a 2026 opening target. In November 2026, Axios reported that the hotel was nearing completion, with an early-2027 opening planned and reservations set to begin Feb. 14, 2027.
A second hotel remains a proposal
A separate 52-room boutique hotel could also be developed in the River Market. The Kansas City Business Journal reported in 2024 that a development group was preparing to convert Confluence’s former offices for that use. The report described a proposal, not a confirmed opening schedule.
A regional lodging snapshot
Visit KC’s annual report lists 8.14 million hotel rooms sold in its regional tourism figures, citing Tourism Economics and CoStar. That total measures rooms sold, not an occupancy rate; by itself, it does not show how occupancy has changed or establish whether the market needs more rooms. See Visit KC’s annual report.
What hotel-demand figures show
For the 2026 World Cup, KCTV5 reported that roughly 85-90% of Kansas City hotel respondents in an American Hotel and Lodging Association survey said booking pace was below expectations and behind a typical June or July. That is a booking-pace indicator, not a final count of tournament demand; the 8.14 million rooms-sold figure above is a regional annual total and does not establish how World Cup demand compares with an ordinary year.
Food and drink plans for the hotel
Axios reported that plans include an Italian coffee shop that would shift to aperitivo service later in the day, and pasta from chef Luciano Monosilio, whom the outlet identified as Michelin-starred. The outlet also reported plans for an outdoor bistro and spritz bar and a basement lounge with dining; the basement bar is intended to offer more than 90 amaro selections.
Work on the historic building
The four-story structure dates to 1880 and is being converted into a 45-room hotel, according to Cerris Builders, the project’s construction manager. The company says the renovation includes new foundations, windows, roofing, interior finishes and building systems while retaining the structure’s architectural character. Axios reported that the owners also plan a spa in the staging area and parking lot south of the building.
