April 22, 2009 --NASHUA -- The first hotel on Amherst Street, the city's busiest east-to-west thoroughfare, is opening May 1.

Hampton Inn Nashua, located at the corner of Amherst Street and Somerset Parkway on the former Ground Round site, has 102 rooms, a saltwater pool and a small meeting space.

Although it is just down the road from well-known Nashua hotels like the Crowne Plaza and the Courtyard Marriott, General Manager Kevin Walker said the Hampton Inn has its own niche.

"In this market, there's a lot of full-service hotels," Walker said.

"Hampton Inn is really the value-driven brand. We're the perfect hotel to be opening in this economy."

Unlike some of the larger hotels in the area, Hampton Inn Nashua does not have a restaurant or large conference center. However, the hotel has arranged for local restaurants such as Bertucci's and the Seedling Cafe to cater events that take place in its 50-person meeting room.

The hotel is owned by Portland, Maine-based Olympia Development, which owns a franchise of Hampton Inns, including the Hampton Inn & Suites in North Conway. Construction began last spring.

Hampton Inn is part of the Hilton Hotel Corporation, and the opening represents the brand's first entrance into the Nashua market.

The location at 407 Amherst St. was chosen because it's a busy stretch of road that is close to the highway and corporate activity, Walker said.

A formal grand opening will take place June 10. Also that night, the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce will host its regular Business After Hours networking event at the new hotel. "The Nashua community has just really, really welcomed us into the area," Walker said.

One of the hotel's goals, according to Walker, was to make the Hampton Inn Nashua as environmentally friendly as possible.

He is hoping the hotel will earn "environmental champion" status with New Hampshire Sustainable Lodging.

The company opted for a saltwater pool and hot tub, eliminating the need for chlorine, and is using Green Seal approved cleaning chemicals and energy efficient lighting.

Each of the Hampton Inn Nashua's 102 rooms feature microwaves, refrigerators and flat-screen TVs. The hotel offers free wireless Internet and a hot breakfast for guests.

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