New Hotels Along Interstate 90 Will Give Travelers Room To Relax

The Holiday Inn Express at Mission and Mullan is nearing completion and construction of a second hotel on Mission is now under way.

Owner Cal Clausen said the 103-room Holiday Inn Express, 9220 E. Mission, will open in mid-October.

A 105-room Best Western is under construction on Mission just east of Pines, next to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The hotel is expected to be completed by March, said Richard Geist, director of marketing for J&B Management, the company that will manage the hotel.

The two new Valley hotels will draw guests from the increase of business development near Sullivan Road, said Terry Lynch, Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce chairman.

Rooms in hotels located so close to the interstate typically are pre-sold, with many businesses purchasing year-long contracts for rooms, he said.

“I think what’s happened is that the chains have saturated other urban areas … and are now realizing that Spokane’s a good buy,” said Lynch.

Managers of both the Holiday Inn Express and the Best Western said they are marketing their hotels to business travelers. Both also said they hope to capitalize on the development of the Spokane Valley Mall and Sullivan Park Center.

At the Holiday Inn Express, Vandervert Construction workers are painting and laying carpet on some areas of the four-floor hotel. In other areas, sheetrock still is being put up.

The hotel will have meeting rooms for groups as large as 60, and a business center complete with computer and internet access. There will be a complimentary breakfast buffet for guests.

Room rates will average about $50, Clausen said.

The outside of the building will be tan with white trim and maroon shutters and will have a brick wainscoat. The hotel will employ 25 people, Clausen said.

The Best Western is owned by five local businessmen, who Geist would not identify.

The general contractor, A&A Construction & Development, Inc., began foundation and utility work last week, Geist said.

The hotel will have several suites with jacuzzi tubs throughout its three-and-a-half floors. There will be one conference room that will accommodate up to 50 people, and a business center with fax and copy machines. The hotel will provide a continental breakfast for guests.

Room rates have not yet been set, Geist said. The hotel will be made of brick and have a metal green roof. It will employ 25 people.

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