Holiday Inn Express Hotels has decided to add Talladega to its chain of 72 hotels across the country and will open a Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites off of Haynes Street.“I feel like it’s a step in the right direction,” said David Owen, broker for Thackerson Realty in Talladega. “It’s nice to see someone have enough confidence in the area to invest what they’re going to be investing.”
Owen said Intercontinental Hotels Group Americas, the corporate owner of the Holiday Inn Hotel chain, came to him in June of last year and asked specifically for property located near the Haynes Street and Battle Street intersection.
After some searching, Owen said IHG liked the two-acre property adjacent to Tractor Supply on Haynes Street, which was originally meant to house the new Huddle House restaurant.
After bargaining with the property owner, Owen said IHG closed the deal on Nov. 30, 2006, with a $330,000 price tag.
Monica Smith, Brand Communications specialist for IHG, said the three-story hotel and suites will feature 70 guest rooms, with a majority being suites with kitchenettes available for extended stays.
It will offer a complimentary “Express Start” breakfast bar for all guests, a “Stay Smart” shower complete with 100 percent terry-cotton towels and cinnamon-scented bath products, and the “SimplySmart” bedding collection featuring 200 thread-count sheets.
“Holiday Inn Express Hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travelers,” said Verchele Wiggins, vice president of brand management for Holiday Inn Express, in a press release. “With more than 1600 properties worldwide and more than 500 properties in the pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express portfolio continues to expand in markets like Talladega, providing our guests with an enhanced stay experience at a great value.”
Talladega Mayor Brian York is confident that adding a Holiday Inn Express is a positive move for future businesses moving into the city.
“I definitely think it’s a step forward for the city of Talladega and will show what kind of businesses this area can attract. I believe the name and recognition of a business like Holiday Inn Express will help some people who might be on the fence decide to come to Talladega.”
Owen said IHG has already surveyed the property and performed all the necessary environmental tests.
Smith said the tentative plans are to break ground in the summer or fall of this year and hopefully have a grand opening in the spring or summer of 2008.
