Hilton Partners With Choctaw

The Mississippi Choctaw Tribe is adding 50 more jobs this year at the Pearl River Resort.

It broke ground Tuesday on a new Hilton Garden Inn, located next to the Dancing Rabbit Golf Club. Officials said it will employ 50 people.

Plans are to begin construction of the 140-room facility within the next two weeks. Officials plan to have the hotel open by Christmas 2007.

"You don't make these decisions overnight. They came in and looked us over and decided that we would make a good partner with them," said Chief Phillip Martin. "And that, therein, is where the investment comes in."

"This is really targeted at a non-gaming customer. So the customers that come in for Dancing Rabbit Golf Club and Geyser Falls Water Theme Park will have a non-gaming hotel to stay in," said John Hendrix, Director of Economic Development for the Choctaw.

Officials said the two other hotels at Pearl River Resort stay booked near capacity, so the additional rooms will add to the resort's business.