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More news on the hotel front in Tupelo:
First, the Regal Inn and Suites is getting an extreme makeover hotel edition, and second, there'a another hotel/motel coming to town.
• We'll begin with the Regal Inn and Suites on McCullough Boulevard, formerly the Microtel Inn. It is currently closed for renovation.
You'll remember hotelier Bruce Patel said a few months back when he took over ownership and management of the Microtel that he would renovate the entire property and give it a new look and new name (previous coverage). The hotel was renamed Regal earlier this year, but it will get another new brand.
And that new name will be Comfort Inn, and it's expected to open sometime this fall. As for the current Comfort Inn, the city planning department said it would remain a Choice Hotels property and become a Quality Inn.
And you'll also recall the former Quality Inn at the McCullough/North Gloster intersection closed a couple years back and never reopened. The owner of that hotel, David Graham, also owned the Microtel.
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And now, that new hotel.
Patel tells us that he is submitting plans to build a two-story Howard Johnson near the Love's Travel Stop on McCullough.
The old HoJo on North Gloster/McCullough was torn down a few weeks back, making way for a planned Candlewood Suites and a Holiday Inn & Suites (previous coverage). And yes, Patel is involved with this project as well.
He said it took a little longer than expected to get the permits and will have to get new bids on construction. But he hopes to have both new hotels ready in about 16 months.
As for the new Howard Johnson, he'll have to go through the necessary permitting process there and isn't sure of a opening date yet.