[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=20229

New owners for Hampton Inn space?

Joseph Malan
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Some Michigan City residents may be confused by the recent absence of signs in front of and on the Hampton Inn building.

The inn has indeed left Michigan City; however, it will be re-franchised soon under a new owner, according to multiple sources.

The hotel has temporarily been named The Inn of Michigan City, having lost its franchise with Hampton Inn. When a new owner will arrive is unknown.

"We're still the same hotel; we're just changing names," said General Manager Hilde Alt. "Everything is the same."

Rich Roose, a front desk clerk at the hotel, said Wednesday the signs were removed by the company Jan. 1 or 2.

"The inspectors just came and said we were no longer the Hampton Inn," Roose said.

According to Alt and Roose, rumors have been floating that the building might become a Best Western Hotel.

Each Best Western Hotel is independently owned and operated, while Hampton Inn is owned by the Hilton Hotels Corp.

In addition to Alt and Roose, four other front desk employees work at the hotel, and 15 housekeepers are employed there as well.

Since the signs out front have been taken down, Roose has noticed hotel occupancy decrease also.

"We only have 10 to 12 rooms a night, so it's pretty much a big drop off," he said, noting the hotel usually has 40 rooms filled every night.

Jack Arnett, La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director, is confident a new franchise will move into the location soon.

"It absolutely is going under a different flag," he said.

In fact, he says, there aren't enough hotels in the city.

"We're very, very short," Arnett said, "Especially from April through September."

Arnett said the region will need a lot of hotel space for upcoming events like NSA Softball and an international boat race. Accommodations, he said, might spill into nearby counties because La Porte County doesn't have enough rooms to house all the visitors that are expected.

Additionally, Arnett said, hotel business in Michigan City is in fact booming.

"Strictly based on [lodging] tax, last year's numbers are up significantly," he said. "It is interesting news considering the economic situation."

[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=31562.94

Changes ahead for South End hotels

Joseph Malan
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Dave Gielczyk sees several changes coming soon to the hotels on the south side of the city.

Gielczyk, general manager of the Clarion Hotel and the former Hampton Inn, said Wednesday it is likely the old Hampton Inn will be a Best Western motel soon.

"Hopefully in the next few months," Gielczyk said, when asked how soon Best Western will be established in Michigan City.

Additionally, Gielczyk said, plans are in the works for a brand new Hampton Inn next to the Clarion, which formerly was the Holiday Inn.

The old Hampton Inn, 4128 Franklin St., was renamed the Inn of Michigan City, and has been temporarily renamed the Encore Inn. It is owned by Andrew Kesling, Gielczyk said.

Gielczyk said on Wednesday the jobs of current employees at the Encore Inn will be maintained when the Best Western takes over.

"We foresee keeping all employees that work there," he said.

While the transition from Encore Inn to Best Western takes place, Gielczyk will make several renovations to the building, including installing an elevator.

"We did all the furniture, carpet, wallpaper, and bedding the last few years there," Gielczyk said. "We're in pretty good shape overall."

La Porte County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jack Arnett said earlier this month that the south side of the city is in need of more hotels. He said the number of hotel customers, based on lodging tax, was up significantly from 2007.

Gielczyk hopes he will know more about the new Hampton Inn over the next several months, while the new Best Western is nearly set in stone.

"The Best Western is hopefully a firm thing," he said.