Decatur’s Holiday Inn to Become a “Premium Brand” Hotel
Decatur Metro | February 23, 2011Though the city still can’t release the name the downtown hotel will eventually take, in our one hotel town, this is big news.
Here’s the city’s official line on the upcoming Clairemont Avenue Holiday Inn renovation…
The new hotel investor is committing to a capital investment of approximately $10M to be put towards the hotel and conference center that will cover every aspect of the overall property – every finish, every surface, every piece of furniture, etc., They plan an affiliation with a premium hotel brand but the official change will take place after the renovation is completed.
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I think the hotel is fine as it is and offers an affordable place to stay for my parents when they visit. It’s the only decent option in town, so I hope the rates don’t go up too much, just so we can have a “premium” hotel.
No love for the Super8?
Super 8 is a motel, no?
It’s a No-Tell Motel.
Really? I thought it was a Come On Inn…
My parents stayed at the Super8 and they said it was really fine. They’re your average suburbanites who usually stay at something like a Courtyard, so I take their word for it. The weekend they stayed there they were originally going to stay at the Executive Suites on Clairmont. That same weekend that hotel was in the news for bedbugs and crack pipes. So, the Super 8 was a good choice for them!
Aw man! I was really hoping they’d keep the mauve and brass look.
Genius!
This is great news for Decatur –
For AKB, Keep in mind the dynamism of markets. A) this investment signals that some major investor thinks Decatur has a ‘growth’ future. B) raising the price/value equation for this location makes room for new entrants in the middle market (though, you’re right, it might take some time.) Hasn’t one of the hotels on Church St recently made upgrades, trying to reach the middle market?
A rising tide raises all ships.
Take that supply-side shtick elsewhere, buddy. This here is Decatur.
Just kidding. Totally agree that, depending on how ‘premium’ it goes, this creates an opportunity for a mid-level entry into the market. Though my gut feeling agree’s with RJ’s WAG below and that this change would be to a Hotel Indigo. It definitely fits their mold of better-than-avg hotels located in ‘cool’ areas. Personally I’m a big fan of Indigo, as they always feel like what would happen if a W had a younger sibling who didn’t always try so hard to be cool.
And, of course, there is the obvious Decatur relationship with something else that starts with ‘Indigo’ …
Hotel Indigo is a Intercontinental Hotel property, just like Holiday Inn. That would not involve a whole new ownership, rather a conversion within the family.
Must be something else.
IHG has franchised operations, in which the brand is licensed to an owner-operator. So it’s possible someone bought the property and chose a different franchise line.
Both of the motels on Church Street have been upgraded; I have had no problems with my guests staying in them. And don’t forget, there are a couple of very nice boutique hotels near Emory. What’s the problem with locating your guests a little further out from downtown Decatur?
They might have to drive drunk?
I shouldn’t have said “have to.” Should’ve said “FAR more likely to.”
As long as they change that butt-ugly sign, I’ll be happy.
I have never thought that the Holiday Inn had terribly “cheap” prices. Whenever I have looked for various reasons, rates were over $100/night, which compared to much nicer hotels downtown, midtown and Buckhead.
This is great news for Decatur.
Anyone have any idea when they plan to start? My fiancee and I are having our wedding downtown in September and plan on booking a lot of rooms at the HI. I just hope that they aren’t under renovation when that happens…
It sounds like the sort of overhaul that would result in the property being closed for a time. I’d inquire about reservations with the manager directly and ask if there are any issues for that time period.
From what I’ve heard Alex, you should be fine for a September wedding. Never hurts to ask though.
get your room block set up soon– we did that for our wedding too (guests loved being able to walk around downtown!), and the HI hosts a surprising number of events. You’ll also have to be sure to really be in contact with the management re your block, because they did not initially do a rolling block reservation for us like had been described when we made the reservation– after some angsty phone calls, they did make room.
Last time I was in the Holiday Inn (four years ago or so) it was gross. Disgusting. The funk just hung in the air. Ever see their courtesy van out and about? Beat-up, dented. Hope the brakes work. And you’re right, Gossip, it wasn’t cheap. Emory Inn & Conference Center was way better – no comparison, really – and not all that much more expensive. For a couple of rooms over a couple of nights, they made me a deal, too. I will be glad to see the H.I. re-born.
This sounds like very good news to me. Fingers crossed. I’ve never known to what extent the conference center is made use of. It seems like a busy, active conference center attached to a premium hotel would be a boon to our local business community.
This is really great. My office has a lot of meetings there, and I’m always struck by how much potential there is. Everyone loves the lunch and entertainment options, but the hotel leaves something to be desired.
I think there would be a lot of demand for nicer/ slightly bigger meeting space- the Emory conference hotel facilities are quite expensive, from what I understand. More meetings means more business for Decatur!!
The Holiday Inn Decatur Conference Plaza was home to the second job I ever held when I just 18, long ago, in a hair color far, far away.
Nellie,
Did you actually work FOR the hotel, or AT the hotel? Some “professions” would only require you to work AT a hotel.
Sorry, Nellie, just couldn’t help myself. You know I love ya. And next time I win lottery money, I’ll buy you lunch at the Chick Fil-A.
You win $500 bucks and you offer her a chicken sandwich? Way to wine ‘em and dine ‘em, dude.
Mrs. Token always comes first.
She gets Taco Mac.
What can I say? I just ooze class and sophistication.
You call me a hooker then offer me a chicken sammich. Humph. Definitely a Republican.
Oh man, I just laughed out loud. You never disappoint, Nell.
Improving the lodging options we have and adding more could be a really good thing for our businesses. A few times in the past I have had out-of-town work colleagues call me to say they can’t find a room anywhere in Atlanta. I always suggest HI-Decatur. They were happy with the hotel and overjoyed with the town. Usually I hear – “I’m never staying anywhere else when I come to Atlanta”. These folks have meetings convenient to the MARTA train lines, so they don’t need a rental car which is another plus and separates us from other places such as Marietta, V-H, even Emory Conf Center (although you could ride the #19 I guess). Best yet these travelers are here during the week when restaurant business is slower and don’t compete for tables with us locals on Friday and Saturday night.
Nothing more than a WAG, but I think a Hotel Indigo (local boutique brand owned by Intercontinental) wouldn’t be a bad fit
that said, I’m not a big fan of Indigo’s aesthetic, though their color scheme would nicely match our new diner
#decaturysnark
Don’t base your opinion on the Midtown Indigo aesthetics..very dated IMO.
Take a look at Hotel Indigo in Athens…complete with a great music venue accessible from the street.
That hotel was/is most certainly NOT fine “as is.”
If you don’t have a large group, there’s also the option of a bed and breakfast: http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/decatur-georgia.html. We found that some were cheaper than the local hotels, and the stay is generally a more “homey” feel. Perfect for the in-laws!!
[...] The Holiday Inn Hotel Decatur will re-open as a new “Premium Brand” hotel, according to Decatur Metro. [...]
From the perspective of the DBF, an upgrade of the hotel is an absolute grand slam.
I’ve found the staff there has really absolutely done the best they can with the facility they have, but the hotel has always come back as “tolerable” from the authors surveys, most of whom are real road warriors. A $10 million investment in the facilities is huge, and will remove what I think of as the weakest link in the Decatur experience for the writers we bring into town, and for any other visitors as well. Great work to everyone involved in getting this done. A huge, huge leap forward for our town. Bravo!
Clairemont Ave.
THANK you. I knew there was something off about that when I posted it.