LP Holiday Inn Express Relaunched

Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites is not only appealing to a guest's vision but also his sense of smell and hearing as part of a worldwide brand relaunch.

In the upgraded lobby of the Lake Placid property on South Lakeview Road, an organic lemon grass scent is emitted from two scent machines. There is also soothing music and signature wall art.

There is a new signage and a logo. Exterior lighting with blue lights shining on the façade will be installed this month. Planters and benches have been added under the portico.

New signage is only issued to hotels that meet the new brand standards related to quality, service, product and amenities.

"We were very excited," said Sonja Warner, general manager, regarding the hotel's qualifying for the relaunch.

Warner said she wasn't surprised that the Lake Placid property had met the new standards because of the quality of her staff. She noted that 75 percent of the staff of 25 employees has been with the hotel since it opened Sept, 17, 2007.

Warner said the low turnover rate "speaks volumes."

She said happy employees will go the extra mile to live up to the company slogan "create great hotels that guests love."

Warner said the front desk and housekeeping staff have received training.

"We're trying to anticipate what a guest wants before a guest asks for it," she said.

The relaunch of the 3,125 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties around the world is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

Warner was also pleased to learn the Lake Placid property, based on guest surveys, ranked eighth out of about 1,900 Holiday Inn hotels in North America in overall satisfaction. Properties had to be open at least one year to be in the ranking.