Monroe Hampton converts to Quality Inn

Southern Hospitality Services, which operates more hotels in the market than any other company, is changing the flag on one of its properties even as it plans to open two more in Ouachita Parish.

The company will change its existing Hampton Inn on U.S. 165 in Monroe to a Quality Inn property Saturday, but the city won't be without a Hampton for long.

Southern Hospitality plans to open its new Hampton Inn and Suites in Monroe near Sam's Club in the Interstate 20 Economic Development District this spring.

"We're opening the Quality Inn to make room for the new Hampton," said Janie Russ of Southern Hospitality. "We're excited about bringing the amenities and service of the Quality Inn to our customers in Monroe."

The 66-room Quality Inn is part of the Choice Hotels and includes amenities like a free hot breakfast, free high-speed Internet and free 24-hour coffee and tea.

Though Southern Hospitality is headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, one of the company's principals, Nash Patel, lives in Monroe.

The company's 84-room Hampton Inn and Suites is set to open this spring and will include 27 studio suits and an indoor pool. It will be among the first of Hampton's "Forever Young" prototypes to open.

Southern Hospitality, which also owns the Comfort Suites on U.S. 165 in Monroe and the new Hampton Inn in West Monroe near the Ike Hamilton Exposition Center, has broken ground on a 98-room Home2 Suites by Hilton in West Monroe near the Ike.

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