Hotels With Ocean Views VA|"Longmont Hotels Pick Up Business From The Flood"

Source              :    timescall.com
Category         :    Hotels With Ocean Views VA
By                   :    Tony Kindelspire
Posted By      :    Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Hotels With Ocean Views VA

Hotel rooms in Longmont have filled up the past couple of weeks as people displaced by the flood and those coming in from out of town to help rebuild are needing a place to stay. "We have 40 rooms of the Army National Guard," said Thomas Goodwill, general manager of the Best Western Plus Plaza Hotel and Convention Center. "They checked in Sunday and they'll be here through Monday. They're here to work on the roads." While that bunch will be leaving soon, another 100 rooms -- at least -- will be occupied by more soldiers helping with the rebuild starting Oct. 2 and running through the day before Thanksgiving, Goodwill said. "The Utah National Guard and the Colorado National have been mobilized," he said. Sure, it is good for business, Goodwill said, but it's also encouraging to see the proactive approach being taken by government to rebuild the infrastructure in places such as Lyons, which was devastated. "We're very pleased to be able to host them," Goodwill said. "It's nice that the federal government is taking this very seriously." It was a year ago that the Plaza became affiliated with the Best Western chain of hotels, the first time in two years the hotel had a nationally known brand attached to it. Not only did it help keep the hotel more than 90 percent booked all summer, but it also helped land the federal government contract to house the National Guard, according to Alan Linton, president of the Plaza Hotel Corp. and chief financial officer for Pratt Management Co., owner of the hotel.

Kyle Sherwood, front desk manager at the Hampton Inn, said the hotel was busy with refugees from Lyons the days immediately following the flood, but most of them have moved on by now. "Looks like we've got all our evacuees out," Sherwood said. "But we had them here for a little bit -- I'd say at least a week, week and a half." He said the Hampton also saw some business from out-of-towners who came in to comfort family members or friends affected by the flood. At Longmont's Marriott complex, the Residence Inn has been busiest of the three hotels with flood victims, mostly Lyons residents, according to Bill Weiberg, the Marriotts' general manager. The Residence Inn is built for longer-term stays, with kitchenettes and work spaces. "It's been a guessing game for them and us because they don't know when they're going to be able to get back to their homes, to their community," Weiberg said. In the meantime, the hotel has been throwing barbecues for them and doing everything it can to make them feel at home while they're displaced. Last Friday night, the Fireball Run crews that were in Longmont held a rally for their race that turned into a fundraiser for the flood victims; more than 600 people showed up and more than $1,300 was raised for the Left Hand Brewing Foundation.

Weiberg wanted to single out Intrado and the ColoRODans for helping out with the fundraiser. Dealing with the Lyons' folks has been inspiring to him, Weiberg said. "My faith in the human spirit has been rekindled because not a one of them are feeling sorry for themselves, even though they have a right to," he said. Lyons' residents are also occupying the Super 8 Hotel at Main Street and Colo. Highway 66, according to Dennis Posa, front desk manager. "In those first days (after the flood) it was mostly people affected in Longmont," said Posa. "We're helping the firefighters in Lyons," he said. "They've got some rooms for the people who are working 24 hours a day, so they can shower and rest." He said about half of the Super 8's 64 rooms are taken up by people who are there because of the flood.

Source:timescall.com/news/colorado-flood/ci_24176919/longmont-hotels-pick-up-business-from-flood