Sept. 07, 2010--The Hampton Inn, 615 Salem Drive, will debut a new look to the public today as the Hilton-managed hotel shows off $2 million in renovations.

"We have taken ownership of the hotel from beginning to end," said Malcolm Bryant, president of The Malcolm Bryant Corp., the hotel's developer. "Our corporate headquarters are here in Owensboro, and we are the face of the hotel, so it's important that we invest highly in it."

This is the most extensive upgrade since the hotel opened in 1994, he said. The new look is part of Hilton's goal of having its properties reflect its new global style by the 2013-14 fiscal year, Bryant said.

"We wanted to be a beta site, one of the first to do the new interior design, and then we took it further with the new guest rooms and lobby," he said.

The 87 guest rooms feature new furnishings, including beds, desks, lights, floor coverings, window treatments, vanities and flat-screen, high-definition TVs.

Hilton's "Perfect Mix Lobby" is designed to encourage people to gather -- with spaces for using laptops, doing work, eating or just talking, Bryant said. Those spaces have new furniture, lighting and displays including 42-inch HDTVs.

A new business center is part of the upgrade, and more bandwidth has been added to provide better Internet access.

The outside of the hotel also has a new look with fresh paint colors and landscaping.

The company has invested $50,000 in a new on-site fitness center. However, guests can continue to go to the Owensboro Family Y if they choose.

Seven new hot items like waffles have been added to the menu.

"All of this adds up pretty quick," Bryant said. "We've always maintained excellence with the hotel, but this time we decided to make it brand new."

Joy Campbell, 691-7299, [email protected]

To Attend

Today's open house at The Hampton Inn, 615 Salem Drive, is from 5 to 7 p.m.

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