The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 28

The Pantagraph LODGING Saturday, March 9, 1996 B3I Three new motels means more room St Twin City inns I i 'I (j 1 Lm. I 5 The PantagraphMAUREEN O'CONNOR B5pOTT RICHARDSON Pantagraph staff As early as a decade ago, worried spokesmen for the lodging industry voiced concern that too many motels were popping up in the Twin Cities. Rooms numbered just 1,091 then. They will total 2,259 by year's end with the addition of the Courtyard By Marriott and Comfort Inn Suites, which opened in 1995, and the Raddison, which opens this summer. They are the 11th, 12th and 13th motels built in the city in a decade and they increase rooms by 15 percent Is the Bloomington-Normal hospitality industry finally reaching a saturation point? Shelley Hunt, president of the Bloomington-Normal HotelMotel Association, thinks so.

But she believes current motels can thrive if the area successfully markets itself to Central and downstate Illinois as a prime convention and meeting alternative to Chicago or St Louis. "I think we are already feeling the opening of the two new ones, (Courtyard and Comfort Inn Suites)," said Hunt, director of sales and marketing for the Raddison and former general manager of Eastland Suites. The Raddison apd Eastland Suites are two of the fcjur Twin City motels owned by the BJoomington-based Snyder Corp. Courtyard and the Comfort Inn-Suites, off Fort Jesse Road just east of Veterans Parkway, are oflmed by Gary Tharaldson Enterprises of Fargo, N.D., which also owns the existing Days Inn West at 1707 W. Market St in Bloomington.

"We in the hotelmotel association, in conjunction with the Bloomington-Normal Convention Visitors Bureau, are going to need to get out there and hustle," Hunt said. "It doesn't do anybody any good just to shift this business around from one property to the next. We need to get out there and generate more. "Our geographic location is ideal. Our rates are very competitive compared with what you can get in St.

Louis or Chicago. People from downstate don't have to feel they have to travel a hundred years to get to a meeting All those things make us attractive to meeting planners. "Anytime you have a room that is unoccupied and there are a lot of them unoccupied we all need to get out and tell people just how great it is here." Occupancy rates are no longer published by the convention bureau. When last disclosed, occupancy hovered around 60 percent last year, which compared to a national average just under 70 percent But Mark Adams, general manager of Jumer's Chateau which caused concern among established motels when built in the mid-1980s, points to the growth of Bloomington-Normal as a barometer for continued health in his industry. "We are very fortunate the market is expanding," said Adams, whose hotel ranks among the top suburban properties in the nation based on total sales per room.

"But expansion is reasonably fragile. The strong survive that If you sincerely pursue great service, you will succeed. It is as simple as that" Comfort Inn Suites, managed by Sanda Seaberg, has 60 rooms, some of which include fireplaces and living rooms. Courtyard by Marriott features 78 rooms, an indoor pool, exercise room and a restaurant. Its general manager is Bill Legett.

The Radisson will add 150 rooms to the Twin City mix. It will be managed by Robert Bleavins, who comes over from Jumer's Chateau. Beside the new trio of lodging establishments, motels and hotels in Bloomington-Normal include: Best Inns Bob Brewer is president of the 107-room, 17-year-old Best Inns of America, 1905 W. Market St, Bloomington. Manager is David Hofmeister.

Assistant is Jennifer Oyer. Both the interior and exterior were renovated last year. Best Western University Inn Best Western University Inn, 6 Traders Circle, Normal, celebrates its 10th year and the 50th anniver- It. A fireplace is part of the decor for sary of Best Western International. The motel, which has 102 rooms, is owned by Snyder Development Ty Whitmer is manager.

Vickie Simpson is assistant Sixty percent of the facility's rooms were renovated early this year. The lobbyfront desk area and hallways will be redone soon. Best Western Eastland Suites Lodge Best Western Eastland Suites Lodge, 1801 Eastland Drive, Bloomington, opened in 1987 with 64 rooms to provide extended-stay services. Expansion eventually brought the total 88, including fireplaces, living rooms and kitchens. The setting provides a secluded atmosphere in the midst of the Twin Cities' busy commercial east side.

Eastland Suites offers limo service. The conference center is 3,200 square feet Newly appointed general manager is Anthony DeAngelis. Coachman Motel The 50-room motel is located near downtown Bloomington at 408 W. Washington St. Comfort Inn The 105-room Comfort Inn, 500 rooms.

painted. It is owned by the Spring- field-based Albanese Development -i' which purchased it in January 1993. Manager is Rick O'Neil. Jumer's Chateau ft Jumer Chateau at 1601 Jumer t. Drive, Bloomington, is a $14 mil- lion luxury facility, which opened in 1988 with 180 rooms.

Its con- vention center seats 400 and its French country-style restaurant seats 175. Jumer's ranked 39th in a'1c recent Lodging Hospitality Mag- azine nationwide survey of the top 400 suburban motels based on an- nual total sales per room for lodg- ing, food and beverages. Owner is D. James Jumer, who owns four other hotels in the Midwest New manager is Mark Adams, former assistant Janel Ransdel is the new food and beverage director. Leslie Harding replaced Ransdel as ex- i ecutive chief.

Motel The Motel at 1507 Morrissey Drive, Bloomington, is owned and managed by Jon and Ami Trivedi, who proudly call their non- franchised facility "one of the last of its kind." The facility has been Please see MOTELS, Page B11 Normal. The new motel boasts 60 Fairfield Inn Marriot Fairfield Inn, built in 1988 at 202 Landmark Drive, Normal, underwent exterior renovation and a complete lobby remodeling in the past year, according to Erin Laughlin, general manager. Plans call for updating of its 128 rooms and meeting space. Hampton Inn The Hampton Inn at 604 IAA Drive, opened in 1985 with 108 rooms. New general manager is Michael Donaldson.

New assistant is Deborah Green. The motel is operated by the Allen O'Hara management corporation. Fourth and final phase of a complete renovation will be completed in spring. Holiday Inn The Holiday Inn Blooomington-Normal, formerly the Sheraton Inn-Normal at 8 Traders Circle, last year completed a foot conference center that will hold up to 700 people. The atrium has been renovated, the pool enclosed and whirlpools, a sauna and exercise room added.

Its 161 rooms received new carpeting, drapes and furniture. The exterior was nn this room at Comfort Inn Suites in Brock Drive, Bloomington, includes five suites with whirlpools, wet bars, entertainment centers with videocassette recorders and first-run movies. The facility also offers a small meeting room for 30. Sheri Hickenbottom is manager. Days Inn-Bloomington Days Inn Bloomington at 1803 E.

Empire Bloomington, has 101 rooms and was rated as a "5 Sunburst" Days Inn, earning first place among 1,500 for guest satisfaction. It is owned by LVM of Bloomington and managed by Matt Groppi. His administrative assistant is Tim Dellit Renovations included an addition of a guest laundry room and repapering bathrooms. Days Inn features a small conference center for 50. Days Inn West Days Inn West, 1707 W.

Market St, Bloomington, a Tharaldson Enterprises property, opened in May, 1990, with 58 rooms, pool and hot tub. New manager is Tara Maple, who oversaw renovation of the motel, including carpet, tile, bedding and drapes. Wallpaper and carpeting are being replaced in public areas. inn SM OSF Eastland Center Physician TTD r-n rr TT7PTm TTTU Hi Jil LIFE ft AYHA I Medical Group Medical Plaza (309)662-2500 for Home Care (309)662-8810 Referral Line (309)663-5412 User (309)662-1642 Cardiac Care Center Cancer Care Center Center for Healthy Lifestyles Level II Trauma PromptCare Birthing Center Comprehensive Acute Care Occupational Health Center (309)663-2 100 St. Joseph Medical Center 2200 E.

Washington Bloomington, il 09)662-33 1 1.