New Holiday Inn Express opens its doors

Kalispell's Holiday Inn Express has fluffed the pillows and is open for business.

The city's newest hotel, and the first major hotel facility in the rapidly growing commercial development in north Kalispell, welcomed its first guests on June 8.

"Everything is going right on track," General Manager Jeff Laverdiere said Thursday afternoon. "It was hectic getting the doors open but we are slowly getting to a more comfortable zone."

Situated behind Lowe's on the west side of U.S. 93 just south of West Reserve Drive, the 111-room hotel offers a clearly visible face to travelers passing by on the highway. Thirty of the rooms are two-room suites.

The $9 million 67,000-square-foot, three-story hotel is targeting the leisure market.

That market, including baby boomers with plenty of discretionary money, has more growth potential than corporate markets, said Kent Clausen, a principal with Spokane-based Sterling Hospitality Management and kVc Development, Inc.

He and his brother Cal have been developing hotels since the early 1990s. KVc develops new hotel properties while Sterling Hospitality operates them after they are built.

Amenities at the Holiday Inn Express include an indoor pool for guests, a business center with computer equipment and office supplies, an executive board room for up to 12 people and a complimentary hot breakfast.

To date, Laverdiere said, 22 of the hotel's 30 staff positions have been filled. The remainder should be on board within the next two weeks.

The hotel already has bookings into September.

Laverdiere is looking for a 95 percent occupancy rate during the prime season of May through October, and about a 65 percent occupancy in the off months.

The latter figure is higher than the industry standard, he said, but he expects to hit that target "because of our salesmanship, because it's a brand-new property, and because of the dollar value that a customer gets when they stay here."

Through June 30, the hotel is running a special on room rates. Guests who bring in a coupon clipped from the Daily Inter Lake and other regional daily newspapers will get 50 percent off the regular rate.

"We have gotten tremendous response from the Canadian market," Laverdiere said. "We want people to experience and see what we have to offer the valley."

The public is invited to rent the hotel's executive board room. Reserve a date by calling 755-7405.

Laverdiere said a grand opening is planned for mid-July.