By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Quality Inn on Highway 51 is currently renovating to bring guests a new and improved way to travel since the changeover from Holiday Inn.

Rumors were the hotel lost its flag to Holiday Inn.

General Manager, Sheilah T. Wentzell said this was not the case at all.

“We chose to buy a different franchise,” said Wentzell. “Holiday Inn offered us opportunity to build a Holiday Inn Express, next door, for $7.5 million. We chose not to go in that direction, because at the end of the construction a year and a half from now, we still would have to rename the property. We just bought a different brand.”

Wentzell said they are still owned and operated by Ten Point Properties, Ltd. of LaPlace and are currently renovating, because they are a 20-year-old hotel.

“We are renovating the hotel just as any 20-year-old building would need to be,” said Wentzell. “We are putting new carpet in and painting.”

Wentzell said things have been better for them since they became Quality Inn in November last year, because now there are a lot more walk in business and people come in with or without reservations.

Basil’s, the onsite restaurant has shortened their hours, but not because they are closing down.

“The restaurant’s hours have been cut,” said Wentzell. “This is to make changes and to make it better for the guest.”

The hotel has upgraded to wireless internet with a modem in each room, through Time-Warner Cable.

“We are doing a test run on Tuesday,” said Wentzell.

“We started with 32 rooms to make sure everything is working, and then we will make it available to all 102 rooms.”

Quality Inn is a Choice Hotel featuring 102 guest rooms, fitness center, Basil’s onsite restaurant, 5,000 sq. ft. of meeting room space and a seasonal outdoor pool.

One of the best features is the complimentary full hot breakfast.

“We offer a full service hot breakfast to all our guests,” said Wentzell. “We serve sausage, eggs, biscuits and gravy and other hot items. Not just muffins and cereal.”

See www.choicehotels.com or call 985-652-5544.