Jun. 27--The Hub City's newest hotel is already a hit. 

Holiday Inn Express is expected to have no vacancies through its opening weekend, said General Manager Bobbi Engraf. 

Engraf and her staff have been working this week in preparation for opening Friday because there are reservations for that day. And Engraf said all rooms are booked through the weekend because of the Summer Blast Soccer Tournament in town. 

The three-floor Holiday Inn Express encompasses about 50,000 square feet and contains 68 rooms, including 21 suites. Rooms range from $79.95 to $150 for suites during the week, and a little higher on the weekends, Engraf said. 

Work began on the hotel next to the Target retail store across from Lakewood Mall last September. 

This was a project of Lamont Companies Inc., which is developing land on the eastern edge of town. 

Engraf was hired in March. She said about 22 employees -- basically a full staff -- have been hired and have been working on-site for three weeks. 

Holiday Inn Express is geared toward the business traveler during the week. On weekends, the hotel's indoor water park will help gear it toward families. The water park will contain a 150-foot water slide and a balcony overlooking the water park. 

"Our water park is going to be a big attraction," Engraf said, adding that a lot of people are excited about it. 

The water park won't be ready this weekend, but she said it's not a Holiday Inn requirement to have it open. 

Engraf said the new hotel and its soon-to-be-open water park will be a "great benefit for Aberdeen." The Holiday Inn Express rooms will bring Aberdeen's total number of hotel rooms up to about 700, Engraf said. 

And they are needed, especially for weekends with big events. She said there are still people who can't get a room for this weekend's soccer tournament. 

Starting Friday, reservations at the Holiday Inn Express in Aberdeen can be obtained by calling (605) 725-4000. Reservations can be made 24 hours a day. 

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