Celebration -New Orleans style

Hampton Inn hosts Mardi Gras for the community MATAMORAS — “We’re opening the place to the whole community to let them know we’re here,” said Monique Olivier, the general manager of the new Hampton Inn in Matamoras. “We’re throwing a party for everyone to come to see us, and to celebrate. I’m using the term community very loosely. It includes Honesdale, Milford, Hawley, Matamoras, and Port Jervis,” she added. The Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Tri-State Chamber of Commerce, and Sullivan County of Commerce were all invited to the event. Olivier is originally from New Orleans, so it was natural for her to think of the Mardi Gras theme for the combination grand opening of the Hotel, an open house, and a business networking event. The hotel foyer was decorated in the Madri Gras style, with masks, balloons, gaming chips, and colorful sets of beads. The new hotel has 98 rooms. Although it does not have a restaurant, the guests can enjoy a complimentary free breakfast buffet featuring hot food in the breakfast area adjoining the lobby, where the Mardi Gras took place in the evening. Best Western is a short walk away, and Olivier said she thinks of it as complimentary to Hampton Inn. Best Western has full food and beverage service, and the Hampton Inn guests can just walk across the parking lot. All Hampton Inns are geared toward business travelers who often car pool, so the ability to walk is a big plus. All kinds of travelers are welcome at the hotel, of course, added Olivier. All Hampton Inns are privately owned, and the owners of the Matamoras hotel don’t wish to publicize their names, but their trading name is Westfall Hospitality, and they own a sister hotel in Kingston, N.Y. “I keep up with the trends by reading the industry magazines,” said Olivier, “and the trend is up.” She added feasibility studies were made before Westfall Hospitality started building the brand new hotel in 2008, and the conclusion was the area could support another hotel. The hotel opened for business last Aug. 27. “Business is going okay,” Olivier, added. “The hard hit hospitality industry is settling to leveling, although the business is still not completely stable.” The hotel has an indoor heated salt water pool, an always-open, state-of-the-art fitness center, and self-service laundry facilities. Although there is no restaurant, the hotel will be able to cater for smaller size wedding or baby shower parties in their 1,218-square-foot banquet room. The Madri Gras theme party featured a DJ playing music, complimentary food and drink, and people got little trinkets at the door on entering.