Portsmouth city officials on Friday celebrated the topping-off of the $65 million Landing Hotel next to Rivers Casino Portsmouth, marking the completion of the building’s eight-story steel framework.
The topping-off ceremony coincided with Mayor Shannon Glover’s State of the City address, where he announced the hotel is on track to open in early 2027.
“Folks, as they have always done, they underpromised and overperformed,” Glover said. “Remember when we opened this building in 2023? We are two years ahead of schedule.”
The Landing Hotel is expected to boost Portsmouth’s economic growth by creating 200 temporary construction jobs and 60 permanent positions once completed. The hotel will feature 106 guest rooms, including 32 suites, along with a lobby bar, executive boardrooms, and additional amenities.
Rivers Casino Portsmouth General Manager Antonio Perez praised the city’s ongoing development efforts during the ceremony. “As we celebrate the phenomenal economic development progress in Portsmouth, we have another shining example of Portsmouth’s ongoing success, and this one is already eight stories high,” Perez said.
Tim Drehkoff, CEO of Rush Street Gaming and Rivers Casino Portsmouth, highlighted the hotel’s upscale features and design team. “We’ll also have a sophisticated lobby bar, two new executive board rooms, and other amenities,” he said. “We’re pleased to have the award-winning crew of Architecture and Interiors leading the design process.”
Construction is being led by S.B. Ballard Construction Company. Company leader Steve Ballard said the project remains ahead of schedule and has maintained a strong safety record. “This is Portsmouth, the working town, working people,” he said. “A couple of hundred people are working here every day. They’ve been safe. We’re running a little bit ahead of schedule.”
The ceremony concluded with the symbolic raising of a steel beam, marking the near completion of the hotel’s structural framework before it was lowered into place atop the building.
“We haven’t had an eight-story building rise in our city in quite some time,” said Brian Donahue, Portsmouth’s director of economic development. “I think it’s been decades since this has happened here in Portsmouth, but I can assure you there’s going to be many more to come.”
