Dec. 1--At least two Microtel Inn & Suites are planned in Macon and one in Warner Robins, said a company spokesman.

Hotels are planned on Bowman Road and Eisenhower Parkway in Macon and one is planned near Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, said Chris Burdette, director of franchise sales and development for Atlanta-based U.S. Franchise Systems Inc., the parent company and franchiser of Microtel Inn & Suites.

"We've looked at Macon and Middle Georgia for quite some time now," Burdette said. "Macon is going through a lot of good development changes ... and it's one of the things that has prompted our aggressive development now in this area."

The company currently has 20 budget hotels open in Georgia.

The company had hoped developer John Dukes would be able to break ground this month on a Microtel hotel as part of a 15-acre commercial project on Bowman Road beside the Wexford residential subdivision. But that project hit a snag with the Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission after Dukes began clearing the land earlier this year before getting all the permits needed.

The commission changed the zoning on the property to allow it more oversight on what is built on the property, which has created delays in Dukes' plans.

Burdette said Thursday he understands that Dukes hopes to have the zoning issues resolved by mid-January.

"Now it's up to the planning and zoning gods in Macon," Burdette said.

U.S. Franchise Systems also has sold franchisees to Dukes for a hotel in Warner Robins and one on Eisenhower, he said. He declined to say exactly where the hotels would be built.

"When we sell a franchise, its usually site specific, but (the franchisee) has the ability to move that site and it happens quite often," Burdette said. "As far as Eisenhower and Warner Robins go, they are kind of on hold now until we can get the (Bowman Road) project off the ground."

New hotels will be good for Macon visitors, said Trish Whitley, public relations manager for the Macon-Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"We are thrilled to have new product in Macon," Whitley. "Anything new is always good -- anything that is current and fresh for our customer. We look forward to working with the sales team from these properties for our meetings and conventions and various group-business."

Other Microtel hotels are planned for the area, Burdette said.

"I have applications inhouse for three markets in Middle Georgia, and we're going to be closing them Dec. 15," he said. "For competition sake, I don't want to disclose those locations until they are closed."

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223 or e-mail [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]].

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