Holiday Inn Gives New Life to Old Hotel

Destination shoppers and area businesses looking for hotel accommodations in the area can add the Holiday Inn Express to their list of options now that the new 100-room hotel is open and ready for business.

Last week, the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites held its grand opening, attended by hundreds from the community who came out to get a look at the newly-renovated hotel that was most recently the Fairfield Inn.

Tucked behind Burger King immediately off Exit 11, the Holiday Inn Express is home to 79 standard rooms and 21 suites with amenities that include a pool in the summer, HD flat screen TVs with Dish Network, wireless Internet (and wired Internet for business travelers prohibited from using wireless connections) a small workout room and a complimentary hot breakfast in the morning, among other things.

John Rogers, general manager of the hotel said he was so impressed to see the turnout for the open house. David Roedel, managing partner for hotel owner Roedel Companies shared the sentiments during a speech at the open house.

“The turnout just really blows us away,” said Roedel.

Roedel companies is based out of Wilton, and they are currently the owners of now four hotels in Southern New Hampshire including the Hilton Garden Inn in Manchester, the La Quinta Inn in Manchester and the Hampton Inn up in Tilton.

Roedel said they are excited to put the hotel back in the hands of a New Hampshire company some 31 years after it opened originally as an Appleton Inn.

Rogers said they are excited to be part of the community and have felt that excitement in return.

"We've had great enthusiasm from local businesses," Rogers said in an interview a day after the packed grand opening.

Rogers said their accommodations are perfect for travelers coming in from other states and other countries to shop at the new Merrimack Premium Outlets and it gives businesses that bring in outside employees another lodging option right in Merrimack.

Additionally, Rogers said being able to renovate an old hotel to bring something new to Merrimack was a great opportunity.

The hotel was completely renovated inside, Rogers said, taken down to the sheet rock and even removing 15 rooms to accommodate the suites. The main lobby features a sitting area with fireplace and a couple dozen tables to eat breakfast. They completely renovated the sunken lobby to just a sunken entryway with a newly-installed elevator at the front entrance to bring it up to Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.

"With us being here, we're bringing something to the city that people wanted," Rogers said.

In addition to filling an empty building, the Holiday Inn is also bringing job – 25 employees during peak season and 15 right now. It may not be a lot of jobs, Rogers said, but it helps fill a void.

It's been a little slow to start, he said, which is to be expected when opening a hotel in an off-peak season, Rogers said. A lot of guests have been Canadian visitors who've come to Merrimack for the shopping, he said, and he expects to see a lot of shopping travelers during the summer.

"This is the quiet time for hospitality," said Rogers, a more than 20-year veteran of the industry.

With their suites, which include one-room suites with a kitchenette, bed and sitting area and two-room suites with a living room/kitchenette and bedroom, Rogers sai they can accommodate guests for a longer period of time, but pointed down the street.

"Really long term would be the Residence Inn, which has been a fixture in this community for many years," Rogers said.

Rogers said the RGH Hospitality, which manages the property, and Roedel, are both excited to join the Merrimack community and become a trusted business partner in the area.

On Wednesday, Roedel stressed the importance of being an active part of the cities and towns they are in.

“Our company strives to give back to the community in many ways, including Chamber memberships,” In addition to that we also give time and money back to organizations we really, really love and one is the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Nashua,” Roedel said, before announcing that the company decided to match the amount raised by employees for the Bowl for Kids Sake in the amount of $7,500 for the organization.

Holiday Inn Express and Suites opened on Nov. 12 and is located at 4 Amherst Road, Merrimack. For questions and reservations, call 1-877-859-5095.