Hampton Inn hotel ahead for Cove area

Monday, November 19, 2007

By GINA HANNAH

Times Business Writer gina.hannah@htimes.com

Four-story facility is expected to open by fall of next year

A Hampton Inn & Suites slated for U.S. 431 and Caldwell Lane will be the first hotel in the Big Cove area.

Developers and city officials are expected to gather today to launch construction of the four-story, 52,000-square-foot building. The $8.5 million project is a development of Hospitality Group LLC of Huntsville. Integral Hospitality Solutions of Birmingham will manage the 95-room hotel.

Developers were attracted by the site's proximity to the golf courses at the Hampton Cove subdivision, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, said Debbie Morris, general manager of Hospitality Group.

The area's growth also came into play, said Bill Harris, director of development for Integral Hospitality.

"It's a fast-growing area with a large population base. Restaurants are popping up, and stores are starting to come in," Harris said. "The hotel is the missing component."

Harris said the Hampton Inn will have an outdoor swimming pool, a solarium, trellised patios and a party deck with views of Big Cove Creek.

"With the mountain and all, it's a beautiful area," he said.

About 30 percent of the rooms will be suites. Services will include a complimentary breakfast, fitness center, free local phone calls and high-speed Internet access. The hotel is expected to open next fall.

Morris said the Hampton Inn will be built on 2.4 acres of a 31-acre site the group plans to develop into offices, stores and restaurants. She declined to give details on any future tenants.

City Planning Director Dallas Fanning said the Hampton Inn represents the first hotel to be built in the city limits on the east side of Huntsville Mountain. He said the hotel should spur more growth in the area.

"I think it will lead to more restaurants, which is a need there," Fanning said. "When we talked to (the developers) early on, the location of the golf course was important to the location of the hotel.

"I think it's a good location and a growing neighborhood."



Hampton Inn hotel ahead for Cove area Monday, November 19, 2007 By GINA HANNAH Times Business Writer gina.hannah@htimes.com Four-story facility is expected to open by fall of next year A Hampton Inn & Suites slated for U.S. 431 and Caldwell Lane will be the first hotel in the Big Cove area. Developers and city officials are expected to gather today to launch construction of the four-story, 52,000-square-foot building. The $8.5 million project is a development of Hospitality Group LLC of Huntsville. Integral Hospitality Solutions of Birmingham will manage the 95-room hotel. Developers were attracted by the site's proximity to the golf courses at the Hampton Cove subdivision, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, said Debbie Morris, general manager of Hospitality Group. The area's growth also came into play, said Bill Harris, director of development for Integral Hospitality. "It's a fast-growing area with a large population base. Restaurants are popping up, and stores are starting to come in," Harris said. "The hotel is the missing component." Harris said the Hampton Inn will have an outdoor swimming pool, a solarium, trellised patios and a party deck with views of Big Cove Creek. "With the mountain and all, it's a beautiful area," he said. About 30 percent of the rooms will be suites. Services will include a complimentary breakfast, fitness center, free local phone calls and high-speed Internet access. The hotel is expected to open next fall. Morris said the Hampton Inn will be built on 2.4 acres of a 31-acre site the group plans to develop into offices, stores and restaurants. She declined to give details on any future tenants. City Planning Director Dallas Fanning said the Hampton Inn represents the first hotel to be built in the city limits on the east side of Huntsville Mountain. He said the hotel should spur more growth in the area. "I think it will lead to more restaurants, which is a need there," Fanning said. "When we talked to (the developers) early on, the location of the golf course was important to the location of the hotel. "I think it's a good location and a growing neighborhood." © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.