Hospitality Management Corporation announced recently the successful conversion of the Holiday Inn Austin Midtown.

The announcement comes from Leo Spriggs, President of HMC, “We are excited about the opportunity this hotel has to offer Austin and the name recognition Holiday Inn will bring to the property. With the current unprecedented economic and travel environments, Austin’s newest, full-service Holiday Inn, the Holiday Inn Austin Midtown, fits perfectly in that, more than ever, value is the key and no one provides better overall value than the Holiday Inn brand.”

The property will showcase the brand’s new sign, which is the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program. The Holiday Inn brand relaunch is the largest in the history of the hospitality industry, with more than 3,300 hotels around the world being updated - improving quality and driving consistency at Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world. The global estate is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010, and more than 2,000 hotels have been already been relaunched to date.

The relaunch focuses on the things research shows matter most to guests - a modern, contemporary hotel with efficient, friendly service and a great night’s sleep. Relaunched hotels feature:

  * Upgraded and decluttered lobby areas
  * A Holiday Inn scent and sound
  * New bedding
  * Upgraded showers and bathroom amenities
  * New exterior lighting and landscaping
  * New signage with the redesigned logo
  * All Holiday Inn employees also go through an extensive “Stay Real” training program to ensure guests receive the level of service they expect.

The hotel’s $4.5 million dollar renovation focuses on the guest rooms and public areas of the hotel, as well as meeting and banquet facilities. The renovation of the large “Texas-Size” guest rooms includes new 37” HD TV sets, a sitting area with a lounge chair, cable television, hairdryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board. Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: “soft” and “firm.” Bathrooms include a specially designed showerhead that offers superior pressure, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod and new amenities.. Complimentary wireless high speed Internet access is available in both guest rooms and all public areas of the hotel. A new lobby bar is being added to the hotel, along with a 24-hour Sundry Shop, enhanced business center, and exercise facility.

Located on 7½ acres of land, the Holiday Inn’s renovations include transforming the grounds with new landscaping, walkways, and paths located in a courtyard garden environment, and a renovated pool area. Just minutes from the University of Texas, downtown Austin, and the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the Holiday Inn is ideally suited for both the business traveler and for guests coming to Austin for leisure.

Tom Clancy, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Hospitality Management Corporation, said, “The Holiday Inn Austin Midtown is ideally positioned to host functions up to 500 people or as small as a 10-person board meeting. With plenty of free parking and the abundance of nearby shopping, restaurants and entertainment, the Holiday Inn offers an unparalleled location and range of amenities to suit everyone’s needs.”

The hotel is owned by a subsidiary of Latitude Management Real Estate Investors, Inc. and marks their first hotel in Austin. Latitude’s subsidiaries currently own several hotels throughout the country, including others that are affiliated with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the parent company of Holiday Inn.