All 174 guestrooms of Holiday Inn Charlotte University have just been handsomely redone and upfitted to welcome visitors, many of whom have many years of making this their hotel of choice. You’d think the staff could stop and enjoy a well-earned rest. Not so; Phases 2 and 3 have started.
As Director of Sales Deborah Slivensky shows off the new guestrooms, you’ll want to check right in. They feature the posh mattresses, high-end linens and extras of four-star properties. The desks have enough plugs for all your electronics while the clock radio can hold your iPod.
Other traveler friendly amenities include a microwave and refrigerator. You can stash and re-warm restaurant leftovers and store your favorite juices and yogurt – a welcome option for the multi-day stays of University City’s business guests.
The bathrooms with their granite counters, new fixtures and spa-look add just the right touch. No need to call the desk to iron a shirt; just open the louvered closet door and you have everything you need. This is not your grand dad’s Holiday Inn!
The top floors are concierge level with their own lounge, weekday continental breakfasts and receptions Monday-Thursday nights. On a recent Wednesday night, the tables and sofas were filled with VIP and Holiday Inn Gold and Platinum Reward guests including a crew, who even when working on projects elsewhere in the city, have made this their hotel of choice for a number of years. Before departing for supper at a nearby restaurant, they swap family updates with hotel staff. It’s that kind of a friendly place.
NEXT UP: NEW MEETING SPACE AND JR BALLROOM
Subsequent renovation phases will greatly expand meeting space in heavy demand by corporate clients – the who’s who of the nearby University Research Park. While a 24-person executive meeting space is ready on the 7th floor, a 1,800-square-foot space will open in April to be followed by a junior ballroom, as well as terrace areas to host private receptions and casual gatherings. Following the lead of their sister property – the University Hilton – the new check-in with be in pods instead of the imposing front desk, another indication of the amount of planning that is guest-centered. For even more welcoming arrivals, the finishing touch on the $5 million makeover will be a covered entryway.
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