July 31–ALTON — The Atrium Hotel and Conference Center will soon undergo a brand change, according to a spokesperson for international hotel chain Best Western Hotels and Resorts.
A billboard on hotel property indicates the Atrium will soon be branded as a Best Western Premier hotel, which Best Western spokesperson Kelly Dalton confirmed on Thursday.
The Best Western board of directors approved the 87,624-square-foot property for Best Western branding in June 2015, Dalton said, and the owners are planning to re-open the hotel as a Best Western in September.
Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO Brett Stawar said re-branding the Atrium as a national chain will "mean a lot more in the market" and will lead to a spike in booking.
"The ability for that hotel to get online again with a nationally recognized chain is going to be a great improvement," Stawar said. "They're investing a lot of money in renovations. I'm excited to see what the future can hold."
Stawar said the hotel, which has more than 140 rooms, is one of the only full-service hotels in the area, and is therefore essential to the tourism market.
"It is vital that that hotel succeeds, or the market will not be as competitive," Stawar said.
This will be the hotel's second identity change in as many years. In summer 2014, the Holiday Inn hotel chain gave up the property, and it was given its current name, the Atrium. In March 2015, new owners acquired the property at the intersection of College Avenue and Homer Adams Parkway for $3 million, according to Madison County property records.
Sungmin Park now owns the building, which was built in 1982, county records indicate. Park is a California businessman reportedly involved with other hotels, according to a previous report by The Telegraph.
The hotel's services include a restaurant, the Great Rivers Tap and Grill. The website advertises the restaurant as offering a "hand crafted and made from scratch" menu from an executive chef. The hotel also offers a banquet and conference center.
Hotel General Manager Patty Rotermund did not return multiple requests for comment, but the hotel's Facebook page advertises "all sleeping rooms newly renovated." A post dated July 20 said the hotel was selling furniture, miniature refrigerators and restaurant buffet servers.
Before extensive renovations began, at least one Godfrey resident complained about a bug infestation at the hotel. A Madison County health inspection from May reported fruit flies near the bar, buffet, kitchen and dining area, according to the online report. In January, an inspector found mouse droppings in a back storage area. But before January, the last inspection to turn up evidence of insects or rodents was conducted in July 2013.
Madison County Public Health Administrator Toni Corona said the violations in both the January and May inspections were remedied on the spot. Corona says the online inspection reports don't tell the whole story.
"What you don't see is that the problem was corrected," Corona said. "They are operating, they are in compliance, and when we conduct these inspections of any establishment we're working to correct critical violations immediately."
The health department only inspects the hotel's bar and restaurant.
The Best Western spokesperson could not provide more information by deadline Thursday.
There is a Best Western Plus Parkway hotel at 1900 Homer Adams Pkwy. in Alton. Each Best Western-branded hotel is independently owned and operated. Best Western Hotels and Resorts, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand with 4,100 hotels in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide.
Reach Kelsey Landis at 618-208-6460 x 1396 or on Twitter @kelseylandis.
