Coyote wrote:swinquest wrote:Coyote wrote:I called there to make a reservation and after several transfers I finally an oriental lady telling me Hilton can no longer book that hotel.
How many changes have they gone through? At least three I think since I have been here (15 years).
Wasn't that a Howard Johnson's back in the days, then a Holiday Inn, then Executive Inn and Suites?
Back in the day, in the 80s, it was a Howard Johnsons, owned by the Seldin Companies. They also owned the Sheraton at 120th and L (where the Playboy Club was. The Playboy Club was a last gasp at profitability), and hotels in Des Moines and Wichita.
Here's the deal with 72nd and Grover and also 108th & L. In the 70s & 80s those two areas were pretty much the epicenter of lodging in Omaha. Downtown had the Red Lion and that was pretty much it. There was also the New Tower. But really and especially with Aksarben racing 72nd and Grover was huge. Tons of hotel rooms and most were state of the art. Ramada, Holiday Inn, Howard Johnsons, The hotel that had the Shark Club whose name I can't remember, Super 8 and a few others. That's a lot of rooms.
On L street you had the Sheraton at 120th, the Best Western Omaha Inn, the Rodeway, Super 8, Hampton, Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn and Motel 6 at and near 108th. Also a ton of rooms.
The matrix is completely different now and these tired hotels could be too expensive to keep up. You also need ownership that isn't milking the property without spending much. Omaha is a very competitive market right now. Those who don't spend to keep up with suffer the fate of the Sheraton and others.