By Staff
If the comedic commercials do not draw customers into Atmore’s newly opened Holiday Inn Express at Interstate 65, its inviting design will.
Travelers are slowly beginning to take Exit 57 to check-in at the 80-room hotel, which opened its doors at noon last Friday in Rivercane.
Morgan explained that Atmore’s listing on Holiday Inn’s corporate Web site www.hiexpress.com  was delayed due to the holiday weekend, but now that it has been updated more customers are beginning to reserve rooms.
Morgan said several Holiday Inn Express “regulars” are beginning to hear word of the new hotel.
Amenities include free continental breakfast, wireless Internet access, an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a conference room and a Suite Shop. All rooms are also equipped with hairdryers, refrigerators and micro-waves.
Owner John Tampa, Southeast Regional Director for Everest Hotels, said he was pleased work on the hotel was complete and the go-ahead was made to open the doors.
Morgan credited her employees’ hard work and dedication preparing the hotel for the decision to begin booking rooms.
The hotel offers rooms with a king-size bed or two queen beds. Some rooms also include sleeper sofas.
Despite some glitches, Morgan said she is pleased with the first four days of business and expects even more once signage installation is complete.
As for Rivercane, Tampa said he is pleased to be the first business to open and believes there will be many more to come.
Currently, Morgan said there are 15 employees on staff at the Holiday Inn Express, ranging from desk clerks to housekeepers.
Tampa said a grand opening would be held in late May.