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  • Alexis Gregurek sits with Jack Barnes in the Holiday Inn Express lobby Monday evening during the grand opening of the hotel. Joshua Kellogg/The Duncan Banner

    Alexis Gregurek sits with Jack Barnes in the Holiday Inn Express lobby Monday evening during the grand opening of the hotel.
September 18, 2012

Holiday Inn Express holds grand opening for public

Joshua Kellogg The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — While members of the community toured the Holiday Inn Express on N. U.S. Highway 81 during its grand opening Monday evening, Mitesh Patel was eager to focus on the smaller details.

Mitesh is one of co-owners of Apollo Hospitality Firm, along with his wife Pratima and along with his parents, Vansant and mother Kanchan, who are excited to let the public know they are open for business. The hotel went live last week.

“The grand opening lets everyone know it’s official,” Mitesh said. “It lets the local community know we are open for business and we are here for you.”

Before the members of the Duncan Chamber and Commerce led the official ribbon cutting ceremony, the hotel was open for the public to tour the building and see what amenities are offered while finger foods and appetizers were available in the main lobby.

While walking around and meeting the public during the grand opening, Mitesh said the next 30 to 45 days will be focused on the minor details around the complex

“You can never open a hotel perfectly,” Mitesh said. “Sometimes a tile is loose or a piece of board needs to be replaced or some painting needs to be touched up.”

Chamber President and CEO Chris Deal thought the building looked great and was excited for another hotel to open up in Duncan.

“It’s going to be another economic engine for the community, we have many nice hotels in the area but we have a need for more,” Deal said.

Deal explained that during a number of events held in Duncan, a scarcity of hotel rooms appears and causes visitors to stay out of town in nearby Chickasha, Lawton and Ardmore.

“It’s a loss of revenue to the community when they are not buying products or eating here,” Deal said.

The construction on the grounds is now focused towards the Applebee’s restaurant being built to the west of the hotel.

Deal thanked the Patels for being instrumental in bringing the chain restaurant to Duncan.

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