University Inn sports new Aggie decor
Guests at the University Inn are in for a “warm and rich” experience, the manager said.
Leila Neilson, University Inn general manager, along with front desk employees, led tours through the newly renovated floors at the open house yesterday.
“It’s a two-phase project,” she said.
Bailey Construction Co. Inc. finished Phase 1 on March 1. It took two months to renovate the second and fifth floors as well as theme rooms, 302 and 402.
Construction began on Jan. 7, Neilson said.
Guests at the open house enjoyed a chance to view the improved suites, Classic, Deluxe Traveler and Grand Aggie. Each have new furniture and technology. Renovations have raised room rates to $65 for Classic suites, $72 for Deluxe and $99 for Grand.
High-speed Internet is now available in all the rooms.
In the Deluxe Traveler suites new, rich brown armoires hold recently purchased television sets, a king-size bed and ivory love seat. Classic suites house two queen-size beds with room for roll-outs. Walls throughout the Inn feature unique paintings of Cache Valley and other outdoor scenes by local artists Colleen Howe and Jerry Furman. Three small paintings hang in each room.
Students make up 90 percent of the Inn’s staff, and rooms help house guests on university business, including speakers, presenters and hundreds of conference-goers.
“Each conference room has been re-carpeted and repainted,” Neilson said.
During the open house a conference room on the fifth floor was filled with guests chatting and enjoying refreshments. Black boards in each of the conference rooms have been replaced with white boards. The Inn helps host some 300 conferences a year, she said, so updating those rooms was important.
This fall phase two will begin. Third and fourth floors at the Inn will be renovated during this phase.
“They will have the same feel as the rest of the building,” Neilson said.
Their hallways, which now resemble the inside of an on-campus housing facility will be redone with new paint and wallpaper as the others have already.
The feel desired by university management was brought to the Inn by Medici Co., a local interior design company owned by Utah State University alumna, Michelle Dunker. Neilson explained Dunker’s company was chosen from eight that met to discuss the specific goals and hopes for the additions, changes and improvements.
Aggie pride is felt inside the Inn. Immediately in front of the elevator on the fifth floor there is an Aggie “A” in different carpeting as the rest of the floor and inside each room there are “A’s” in subtle areas. Inn staff are excited to please customers.
“We made these renovations to better serve our guests,” Neilson said.
-ireneh@cc.usu.edu