Pasco airport travelers soon will have another nearby choice for overnight stays.

Marriott is bringing its Courtyard brand to the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco. Construction begins this fall.

The airport, owned by the Port of Pasco, recently reached an agreement with A-1 Hospitality on a 50-year ground lease at the corner of Argent Road and North 20th Avenue allowing the franchise hotel project to move forward with construction. The lease includes a 25-year renewal.

The Courtyard by Marriott — Tri-Cities/Pasco Airport will open in the Airport Business Center next year.

A-1 Hospitality will pay $28,000, or 1.25 percent of the hotel’s gross revenue — whichever is greater — annually to lease the property.

The four-story, business-traveler focused hotel will feature 99 rooms, an indoor pool, fitness center, board room and a casual bistro serving as a coffee bar by day and cocktail bar in the evenings.

A hotel like this one typically costs about $130,000 per room to build, according to port officials. This puts the project cost estimate at about $13 million.

“This hotel is an important addition to the airport and the neighborhood,” said Buck Taft, director of Tri-Cities Airport, in a news release. “The proximity to the airport provides the traveling public a convenient and affordable option while staying in the Tri-Cities, and it will also support Columbia Basin College and its visiting guests, students and families.”

Idaho-based JRA Architecture and Planning is designing the hotel, and Fowler General Construction of Richland is the general contractor. The project is financed by Inland Northwest Bank headquartered in Spokane.

The Courtyard by Marriott is being developed by Pasco’s A-1 Hospitality Group, and the hotel will be operated by A-1’s Columbia Hotel Management arm.

A-1 currently owns and operates the Holiday Inn Express and Suites on Road 68 in Pasco, and additional hotel properties in Oregon. Its past projects include SpringHill Suites and Fairfield Inn Marriott, both in Kennewick.

“We are thrilled to bring the exceptional Courtyard brand to the Tri-Cities Airport. This corporate-centric hotel will provide much needed modern upscale lodging to the airport community,” said Taran Patel, A-1’s managing member, in a news release. “Our experienced management team will provide unparalleled guest service in a clean and modern environment. We look forward to constructing a hotel that will not only accelerate further economic development in the Airport Business Center but also the surrounding areas.”

Marriott’s Courtyard is the eighth largest lodging brand in the world, with more than 1,100 hotels in 47 countries, according to the company.

In other airport news, the Tri-Cities Airport recently received more than $10 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The airport will use nearly $9.5 million to move the Taxiway Alpha. The work will bring it in line with current Federal Aviation Administration standards.

Work will take more than a year to complete and will not affect travelers, airport officials said.

About $757,000 will be used to update the airport’s master plan, which was developed in 2012.

The master plan is a detailed study that provides a 20-year look at future airport projects.

The plan will be completed by national aviation engineering and planning firm Mead & Hunt.

“These funds will allow the airport to provide important safety upgrades as well as properly prepare for the future,” said Buck Taft, airport director, in a news release. “The airport is excited to immediately put the grant money to good use investing in the airport and creating local jobs.”

All the airport’s major projects included in the existing plan have been completed or planned, more than 10 years early, Taft said.

“It’s now time to step back and think about what the next 20 years could bring,” he said.