New Orleans, LA (April 4, 2012) – Expotel Hospitality, an innovative and well known hotel management company, has been hired by the Los Angeles based Laurus Corporation, to manage their new acquisition. Laurus Corporation recently acquired the Ramada Inn and Suites New Orleans Airport with the intent to convert to a Holiday Inn Express and Suites in the next nine months.

The soon to be Holiday Inn Express & Suites is a 130 guestrooms and suites product, situated at the entrance of the upscale 200 acre St. James Office Park and immediately adjacent to the New Orleans International Airport. The hotel features over 3,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space with an on site restaurant, swimming pool, business center, and exercise facility.

Expotel Hospitality has been hired to manage the day to day operations of the hotel as well as oversee the conversion of the Ramada to a Holiday Inn Express and Suites. The timeframe estimated for completion will be November 1, 2012.

Kerry Ranson, COO and Executive Vice President of Expotel Hospitality stated, “Ultimately we will provide a very smooth transition from Ramada to Holiday Inn Express over the next few months but in the interim, we will focus on increasing the service delivery of the hotel and ramping up the performance of the hotel under Ramada. Our expectations are very high and adding the IHG brand to the property will add even more visibility and value”.  Converting the hotel to a Holiday Inn Express is nothing new to Expotel Hospitality. “We have had great experience not only with conversions such as this but working with IHG on other projects provides familiarity and a smooth transition for all parties,” added Mr. Ranson.

The soon to be Holiday Inn Express will be Expotel Hospitality’s eighth hotel located in the New Orleans area and thirteenth overall hotel added to their global portfolio. Jeff Iavarone, Vice President Marketing, eCommerce & Sales for Expotel points out, “having six hotels in the New Orleans market allows us to utilize our sales resources as well as leverage our knowledge and relationships with hotel decision makers.  The ability to drive business and have an array of hotel options as a one stop shop for key decision makers is an undeniable value. This clearly is an asset to Laurus Corporation and other hotel owners who partner with Expotel Hospitality in the New Orleans market.”

The hotel is part of the Expotel Hospitality Services, LLC portfolio which compliments the broad appeal of Expotel’s diverse portfolio ranging from select feature to full service products. The range of brands extends from Hampton Inn’s to Embassy Suites, Choice Hotels, Hilton, Doubletree, Sheraton Four Points, Wyndham, Holiday Inns, Crowne Plaza, Best Western and independent boutiques. Expotel Hospitality has entered into the field of hotel management companies by marketing their ability to manage almost all types of hotel products across the spectrum of lodging products today. Expotel Hospitality Services is headquartered in New Orleans, LA, with Regional Offices in Phoenix, AZ and Denver, CO.