 |
| Holiday Inn Express purchased land from Western
Sizzlin’s Steve Harris for the construction on their new
location on West Garriott. |
By
Robert Barron
Staff Writer The number of upscale
hotel rooms in Enid will increase when Holiday Inn Express opens
on West Garriott, in 2005.
Socrates Lazaridis, of Renaissance Architects, who designed
the hotel, said the $4 million structure is owned by Dr. Atul
Patel.
It resides on 2.8 acres of land adjacent to Western Sizzlin’
Restaurant.
It will be three stories and 43,260 sq. ft. wood construction
with 77 guest rooms, including six suites and an indoor pool.
The Patels already own motels in Oklahoma and in Enid.
“It will be a hotel for family and business travelers,
a nice asset to the community,” Lazaridis said.
Among the amenities the hotel will offer are a fitness room,
great room with breakfast area, guest laundry, meeting rooms
and high-speed Internet connection in every room.
The hotel is planned for opening by the end of summer 2005.
Some offsite improvements must also be completed.
The city requires drainage improvements and an acceleration
and deceleration lane, which will widen Garriott. The franchisees
develop the property, operate it and pay annual dues to Holiday
Inn Express.
“We believe there is a need for more hotel rooms in Enid.
Also, the high quality hotel catering to business travelers
and families,” Lazaridis said. “It will be an attraction
in Enid.”
Lazaridis said the hotel will be one of the nicest in Enid and
an asset to the community.
Obtaining permits and developing bidding was an eight-month
process, but construction on the property in the 4700 block
of West Garriott has begun.
-photo by Bonnie Vculek |