Changing more than the sheets

MORRIS -- Out with the old, in with the new.

That's what's happening with two hotels at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Illinois 47. A 30-year-old Holiday Inn has been closed, and part of it was torn down to make way for a new 92-room Holiday Inn Express at 222 Gore Road. The Holiday Inn Express opened March 25.

The vintage Holiday Inn, which had 119 rooms originally, will be converted into a 60-room Quality Inn in the coming months.

It's all part of a quest by Janko Hospitality, the company that owns both hotels, to stay up-to-date in the hospitality industry, said Pam Piltingsrud, general manager for the Holiday Inn Express.

"Hotel standards change so quickly to keep up with what everybody else is doing," she said.

For instance, the days of cold breakfast bars are over. Most hotels now offer hot items as well, Piltingsrud said. That's why the Holiday Inn Express features biscuits and gravy and bacon and eggs at its breakfast bar.

Having the latest technological advances also is important, she said. The hotel has a business center complete with computers, printers, scanners and shredders. The hotel features free wireless Internet as well.

"You have to provide free Internet access to the business travelers," Piltingsrud said.

But there's so much more that the new hotels offer, especially in the area of creature comforts, said Jennifer Olson, director of sales.

"It's classy, modern, but really home," she said.

During a tour of the hotel, Olson highlighted granite countertops in every bathroom; curved shower curtain rods, which give guests more room in the tub; and a range of pillow choices -- each bed gets two soft and two hard pillows.

One guest was so enamored of the hard pillows, part of the hotel chain's Stay Smart program, she called asking how she could buy some. Olson said many of the hotel's supplies are offered through a catalog that can be ordered online at www.holidayinnexpress.com.

The hotel, which has 16 suites including six whirlpool suites, also has an indoor pool, whirlpool and fitness center and 32-inch flat panel TVs in every room. The only thing it doesn't have is a restaurant, which is why Holiday Inn uses the Express tag.

"But we have everything else," Olson said.

And the hotel is just down the road from a Chili's Restaurant.

"Our location is just beautiful," Olson said.

So far, the Holiday Inn Express is a hit with local residents and business travelers, said Jennifer Olson, director of sales.

"We are busy," she said. "Almost every one of our weekends is almost booked."

The new facility can't help but entice even more visitors to the area as well, said Robert Navarro, president and CEO of the Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"The new Holiday Inn Express -- Morris will provide a much needed upgraded suite-style option for those not only visiting the local community but also travelers passing through to other destinations," he said.

"The new facility will elevate the type of overnight accommodations offered in the Heritage Corridor region and strengthen the region's draw as a destination. We are thrilled for Janko properties, the Morris community and the Heritage Corridor region."

Newlyweds are booking the whirlpool suites for their wedding nights. Traveling baseball teams are booking the 40-seat meeting room for team breakfasts. World War II era Navy veterans are planning a reunion at the hotel in a couple of weeks. Bridal shower, baby showers also are being booked for weekends to come.

Olson said the newness of the hotel is nice, but the staff is working hard to make customer service a priority, too.

"We really try to cater to each guest," she said. "Everybody is going to stay here because we're new, but we want them to come back."

For more information, call (815) 941-8700.