June 26, 2015 at 3:30 p.m.
New owners to renovate Claridge Days Inn
New owners to renovate Claridge Days Inn
Dave Bhatt, one of the new owners, says the hotel will remain a Days Inn property. He purchased the hotel with two partners, Anil Patel and Ashrim Maysurya.
Changes to the hotel will include improvements, Bhatt said. Another change is that general manager Ed Orlikowski is retiring.
"He has been with the property for a long time," said Bhatt. "He offered to help us in any way as we move forward."
A number of changes will be coming to the interior of the hotel.
"We will be getting new furniture, fixtures, and equipment, as well as renovating the public areas, maybe sometime in the winter," Bhatt said.
While they are anxious to make the hotel their own, the new owners want to acclimate to the business and the Rhinelander community, first and foremost.
"Right now we just want to focus on getting to know all the employees, making the adjustment and getting to know the way they do things," Bhatt said.
"We learn from them and can teach them some new things."
Bhatt owns a Quality Inn and Suites in Marinette, where he moved in late 2008. He is from Chicago but he said he loves Wisconsin.
"I opened my first business in Wisconsin in 2006, but I've been in business a long time," he said.
Bhatt said he likes the community of Rhinelander so far.
"It's pretty similar to what we have in Marinette," he said.
The key difference between the two cities is tourism, he added.
"It's more of a tourist destination than a commercial destination," he said of Rhinelander.
Bhatt said he would like to learn more about the community and see what kind of activities occur.
The three also own hotel properties in Green Bay and Minocqua. They are currently working on purchasing a property in Tomahawk.
"We are always hands-on owners," Bhatt said, adding that they are often behind the front desk or with the housekeeping staff, not in an office.
"It's a great business. It's totally a customer service business," he said of the hotel industry.
"When someone goes to Walmart and buys salt, they take that salt home with them," he explained. "When someone comes to a hotel, they are not taking anything back with them but the experience they had at our property with the employees or the cleanliness of the room or the restaurant service. They are spending 24 hours with us."
Bhatt doesn't anticipate any changes to the restaurant menu at this time, although he did not rule out reevaluating it in the future.
'We are looking to get input from other people as well," he said.
All in all, Bhatt is pleased with the purchase of the hotel.
"We are very excited to be in Rhinelander and be in business with the community, and would like to get involved in community events as well." he said.
The hotel had been under the ownership of the family that built it more than 50 years ago.
Janet Cleary-Debyle and her son Tom had been overseeing the company Janet's father, Jim Cleary, built in 1962.
In 2012, the hotel changed from a Best Western to a Days Inn. Over the years, additions were constructed in 1965 and 1970. An indoor swimming pool and 10 luxury guest rooms, as well as five deluxe apartments were added in 1972. The parking lot and lobby areas were expanded in 1987, and later guest rooms and the restaurant were updated.
Katie Perttunen may be reached at [email protected].
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