04/07/2007

Holiday Inn says it's 'here to stay'

FROM STAFF REPORTS

TRAVERSE CITY — An Ohio-based development company has extended its franchise agreement for operation of the Holiday Inn West Bay and announced the hiring of a new general manager.

Castrop Wolfe Development Co. of Dublin, Ohio, the managing member of Holiday Inn West Bay at 615 E. Front St. in Traverse City, announced it has extended its operating agreement for the 179-room hotel through 2012 in response to what the company said are persistent rumors in the community that the hotel would be sold for condominium development.

"These rumors could not be further from the truth,” company President William Wolfe said in a statement. "We are committed to being a Holiday Inn and maintaining a standard of excellence in serving the people and visitors of Traverse City, both now and in the future ... (it's) here to stay.”

The company recently spent $600,000 on property renovations that include new guest room furniture, an updated telephone system and improvements to the Shimmers night club, officials said.

Deborah Brown was recently installed at the hotel's new general manager, bringing more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

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