Sept. 13–JACKSON TWP. — The work has stretched over more than two years and exceeded the original projected cost of $8 million. With all that time and money the hotel features a number of things that are new.
"It has been a long time coming but worth it," Cerrie DeBos, general manager, said of the project. She called it a "complete rebuild" and contends the changes make the Holiday Inn at 4520 Everhard Road NW the area's "premiere hotel."
The most noticeable change is a new main entrance and lobby fronting on Everhard Road NW. There is a concourse and additional areas where guests can relax or mingle.
Meanwhile, the Twenty/20 Taphouse is the new restaurant and lounge. It has an outdoor patio with a fireplace, and 13 televisions in the restaurant.
The hotel reduced its rooms to 184 from 193 to make the improvements. The new lobby was built in an area that had been filled with guest rooms. A third floor was added to one wing of the hotel to replace some of the lost rooms. New rooms include a two-bedroom suite with a board room, three one-bedroom suites and 30 additional junior suites.
There is more than 12,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with two new meeting rooms. The business center is accessible 24 hours.
Changes also included a new indoor pool, fitness room and an outdoor courtyard. The hotel still offers banquet facilities, making it one of Stark County's three full-service hotels. There also is a new guest laundry.
It's a new hotel with a new experience, DeBos said.
Over the past three years, a half dozen new hotels have been built in the greater Canton area, while several established facilities have invested in upgrades and remodels.
