July 30, 2012--One of the Hampton Inn hotels along the Grand Strand has new owners who plan to spend nearly $2 million renovating the property.

The Hampton Inn off Kings Highway at 75th Avenue North will get a nearly complete interior makeover, including new carpet, paint, furniture, an expanded breakfast area, updated lobby area and thermostats for the air conditioners in the 122 guest rooms, general manager John Sorrell said.

The $1.8 million in work will start in late October and be done in mid-February, Sorrell said. The hotel, which will keep the Hampton Inn brand, will stay open during the renovation.

"There's nothing that won't be redone," he said.

Guests will have to pay a bit more to stay there after the upgrades are complete. Rooms that typically go for $179 in the summer likely will go for $199 next summer, Sorrell said.

The renovations come after Raleigh Krishna LLC bought the property for an undisclosed price.

The five-story hotel, built in 1995, is performing well, with average year-round occupancy of 68 percent and frequent sellouts, Sorrell said.

Contact DAWN BRYANT at 626-0296 or at [email protected] or follow her at Twitter.com/TSN_dawnbryant.

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