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January 9, 2010

Bye-bye Holiday, hello Quality

Longtime hotel changes franchise

Toni Hopper

DUNCAN — The business franchise for Duncan’s Holiday Inn is now being transitioned to Quality Inn and the sign was the first visible change noticed by the public this weekend.

For 36 years, the 137-room hotel has served as a Holiday Inn, but the bad economy forced a change, said Director of Operations Lynda Quattlebaum Monday as she talked about why it was necessary to apply for a Quality Inn franchise.

“The downturn in the economy has affected us. Holiday Inn franchise fees are so high,” she said.

“Last year was the worse that we’ve seen, especially the last part of the year, since the ’80s. 1987 was really bad,” she said.

It was so bad, they had to reduce staff and decrease payroll.

“We laid off in housekeeping and maintenance,” she said.

Quattlebaum said the transition was a necessity because of the economy, which she said, “looks more like a depression than a recession.”

She should know just how bad it’s been since she’s worked at the hotel for 34 years, beginning as a desk clerk, then bookkeeper, manager and now in her current position.

She said they never dreamed the economy would have such a negative impact on the business, but combined with area layoffs, and a new hotel coming into the city, plus the high franchise fees, all factors worked against the long-established hotel.

“Layoffs, less events, and we count on Halliburton a lot. When they’re slow, we’re slow,” she said.

Yet, there is an upside to the change and Quattlebaum maintains an air of optimism.

“We will be able to put more money into our rooms and maintain our high standards that we had before,” she said. Rooms will be repainted.

One major change is that the hotel will offer a breakfast for its guests, “more than just Continental,” she said. While the restaurant has opened at 6 a.m. it now will open at 11 a.m.

“It will still be Hero’s, but we are going through a lot of changes,” she said.

Other changes included gathering demographics of Duncan, and a switch in the computer system, and changing all products to Quality Inn. At the end of the month, Quality Inn inspectors will visit the facility to make sure there are no Holiday Inn products remaining, she said.

This is the third hotel in Oklahoma, all owned by Dalton Jones, that is transitioning from Holiday Inn status to Quality Inn. Two years ago, Ponca City made the switch, and a year ago, the Stillwater facility followed. Quattlebaum said the Duncan transition has been the easiest.

And she said as of Jan. 1, the annual fall hog conference people called to rebook rooms for this year’s event.

“We’re already booked for the fall festival. And that bullriding event about a month ago was good for us. I think this is a good thing, a positive thing and we expect to have a better year,” she said.

Rick Bishop is the manager for the Duncan hotel, she said.



— Toni Hopper is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. She can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 132 or by e-mail at: toni.hopper@duncanbanner.com.

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