Ribbon Cut

Comfort Inn in Lincoln to host ribbon cut on October 16th
Locally owned motel transitions from Holiday Inn to a Choice Motel

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[October 15, 2019]   On Wednesday, October 16th the community is invited to join the Lynn Paulus and Jenna Beyers of Hotel Ventures Management, along with their staff in celebrating the new branding and complete renovation of one of the Lincoln motels. The Holiday Inn Express is now a Comfort Inn and Suites. Inside the building, guests who have been there in the past will definitely note the changes to the motel as soon as they walk in the door.

Among the many notable changes is the relocation of the breakfast area. The front room that was once a casual eat-in area for guests is now a comfortable front lobby with sofas, chairs, and a business center with computers and internet access.

The former meeting room at the motel has been transitioned to a very comfortable breakfast room that seats about 30 at a time. Guests enjoy a full hot breakfast prepared on-site in the kitchen next door to the breakfast room.

The guest rooms have been completely re-done with new colors, new, modern fixtures and comfortable beds and seating.

This week, marketing specialist for the HVM, Jean Bruner-Jachino, walked through the newly remodeled rooms, pointing out the significant changes and improvements in the rooms. 

One of the favorite rooms now is the Executive King room that includes a king size bed plus a very comfortable seating area with a sectional sofa and other seating. All the rooms have updated coffee nooks with Keurig coffee maker, microwave and refrigerator.

The motel also offers a King Suite option as well as queen and double queen rooms.

The bathroom vanities have been updated with new cabinetry and sink tops.

Bruner-Jachino said that she is excited about all the great, positive changes in the building and is looking forward to marketing the new brand and new comforts offered at the Lincoln Comfort Inn.



She commented, “The goal is always to bring people to our community. We are owned by a local family and they are invested in helping to grow and improve our community.”

Assistant Manager Tina Simpson is also happy with the changes. Simpson is one of the fine examples of growing a local business with local people. She noted that she began her career with HVM in 2009 working two days a week at the Hampton Inn, located on the other side of the road, also owned by HVM. She worked her way into a fulltime position then started working toward management. When HVM purchased the Holiday Inn Express, Simpson was moved to the new location as the assistant manager working under Damon Priddy, general manager for both the Hampton and Comfort Inns.

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Simpson said that she enjoys being a part of the locally owned motel and she knows that the people she works for are caring and committed to serving the community and also to taking care of staff. She noted that promoting from within gives staff the opportunity to grow with the company, and that is a really good thing. For example, she also noted that the staff enjoys the implementation of employee days when they are allowed to wear a specific shirt for a specific cause or charity. She noted for example that the group looks forward to Pink Friday’s in October for breast cancer awareness.

Asked about why leave Holiday Inn and go to Comfort Inn, Simpson and Bruner –Jachino explained the decision.

According to the two, the Holiday Inn franchise is undergoing a re-branding of their own called a ‘blue format.’ It appeared the local motel would be required to go with the format, which would mean a complete tear down of the existing building and the construction of a new motel.

Paulus and Beyers were not willing to demolish a building that is very recognizable in the community and still in perfectly good condition. Simpson said that the current building is only 24 years old, and in very good shape.

Choice Motels on the other hand, was more than happy to see the building stay in place. The remodel was extensive, but in the end, when customers come into town, they see the same motel they have seen for the last 24 years, just with a different name.

Simpson said that the motel does get a lot of return visitors, and with the name change came some skepticism from those customers. Many were concerned that the motel had changed ownership, and they like doing business with a local family. But once they were back in the motel and saw the same management, the same staff, and the same quality service they have come to expect, they have all been very happy with the updated rooms and amenities.



Bruner-Jachino said that the owners and staff have enjoyed their relationship with Holiday Inn and that the motel always scored high points for their cleanliness, and the efficient and friendly staff. They are now looking forward to developing that same top quality service, setting high standards and becoming a favorite location for the Choice Motel line.

Simpson pointed out that the motel décor helps to draw attention to some of the local flavor of the community. She noted that the photo art in the guest rooms as well as in other areas of the building are all scenes taken on the campus of Lincoln College.

Bruner-Jachino said that the owners are always looking to improve and evolve the motel to what is needed and wanted by the customers and the community.

She noted that Paulus and Beyers are always entertaining new ideas and new amenities for the motel, and even though everything looks perfect as it is, there are still a few new additions that will be coming in the future.

Simpson said remodeling the 69 guest rooms as well as common areas was quite an undertaking for the motel. The work began in October of 2018 with a whole lot of fresh paint. Then the third floor guest rooms were closed and completely remodeled. From the third floor the construction moved to the first floor then finally ended with the completion of the second floor. Simpson said that the motel was actually closed only a few days at a time two or three times throughout the process.

She noted that they also took a break from construction this past February when the basketball tournaments were in town. But all-in-all the work was done and the official name change took place on August 2nd of this year.

The ribbon cutting will be held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 16th and the public is invited. Paulus, Beyers, Priddy, Simpson and Bruner-Jachino and staff look forward to offering tours that will include visits to guest rooms, the breakfast area and lobby as well as the new fitness center.

The Comfort Inn & Suites is located on the city’s west side next door to Russell Stover Candy and across the street from Thornton’s at 2811 Woodlawn Road in Lincoln.

We hope to see you all on October 16th.


[Nila Smith]

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