BY DONNA SWICEGOOD
Owner Tika Shah welcomed civic and business leaders to her family’s refurbished and rebranded hotel on Garner Bagnal Boulevard in Statesville on Tuesday afternoon.
During an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony, Shah said many people thought the property, which was formerly a Ramada Inn, was closed. After undergoing major renovations, the hotel recently reopened as Sonesta Select. It also features the new Red Buffalo Bar and Grille.
Along with upgraded guest rooms and the restaurant with an outdoor seating area, the hotel also features three meeting rooms with kitchenettes.
Shah, who was accompanied by her family, which has been in the hotel business in Statesville for more than three decades, said the rebranding and remodeling were the culmination of more than a year of planning and construction.
The decision to move on from the Ramada brand to Sonesta was based on that company’s values, something the Patel family treasures.
“It’s a very family-oriented company,” Shah said.
Her introduction to Sonesta came during a family trip to Marina Del Ray, Calif. “Everyone there was so welcoming,” she said.
Sonesta hotels are also pet friendly, which is important to many travelers. A small dog house, meant to hold water bowls, is located out front of the refurbished Statesville property.
The family is happy to bring this new brand to Statesville, a place that welcomed her family many years ago, Shah said.
“We truly appreciate the community and we thank you and welcome you,” she said.
Her husband, Nimesh Patel, said his family discovered Statesville on a trip from their home in Indianapolis to Myrtle Beach.
“We stopped for the night near here,” he said. “A gentleman showed us a place here in Statesville and it utterly transformed our lives.”
The family’s holdings in Statesville began with one hotel and and has grown to four. Patel attributed their success to the community’s support.
“To each of you, we’re truly thankful and truly blessed,” he said.
Beth Packman, co-president of the Greater Statesville Chamber of Commerce, said the transformation of the old Ramada property sends a strong message.
“This transformation reflects confidence in our region. When a property is renovated and rebranded, it sends a strong message that our area is growing, thriving and worth investing in,” she said. “It recreates jobs, attracts visitors and supports many small businesses that make our community unique.”
Packman said many months of hard work have gone into this project.
“Renovating a house is not easy — we can all agree on that . I can not imagine what it took to undergo a mutil-month renovation of 132 guest rooms, all of the public areas, and even the outdoor and social spaces in the hotel,” she said. “We know it will have a positive impact for many years to come.”
Tom Williams, NVP of franchise development for Sonesta, said the hotel chain is growing, and he is glad the Shah family is a part of it.
Statesville Mayor Doug Hendrix, who was among those stopped by to support the business, said the addition of Sonesta is something to brag about.
“The Sonesta flag is a wonderful flag, and it’s real different in that you don’t see them everywhere. When people come off this interstate this is where they’re going to stay,” he said. “I am so proud. … You make Statesville look great.”
Cindy Sutton, executive director of the Statesville Convention & Visitors Bureau, thanked the Shah family for its investment in Statesville.
Shah said the new property represents a new modern look. “We wanted to make this space feel more modern, more comfortable, more welcoming for today’s travelers,” she said.
Shah also emphasized the important role family plays in their business and in this new property. “As a family-owned business, this project is especially important for us,” she said.
And part of that family, she said, is the community as a whole.
“We truly appreciate the community and we thank you and welcome you,” she said.
Photos
