Three motels within the city limits of Commerce may be crowded during homecoming and orientation, yet they are left behind when the students leave. The Holiday Inn, The University Inn and The Commerce Inn face the struggle of surviving in a college town.
With homecoming right around the corner and recent construction on the Music Building site, there are numerous people calling local motels and making reservations; however, when events cease to exist, the phone tends to ring less often.
“If the university is dead, we are dead,” Ashley Bolodar, Holiday Inn Front Desk Active Manager said. “Business is based around the school. We have students, parents, alumni, and construction workers galore.”
Business comes in spurts for the three motels. Every orientation, sports activity and new building construction fills the rooms of the motels. When summer rolls around and students are sent home, the motel business finds a way to stay alive.
“International students will stay here in the summer, because they get here before dorms open and they do not have transportation,” Commerce Inn Owner Tim Patel said.
Each motel has its own characteristics to contribute to the competitive atmosphere.
The Holiday Inn has a convenient location right next to Wal-Mart and Lone Star, a restaurant that does not involve placing your order to a speaker box in the drive-thru. The amenities include a free continental breakfast, indoor swimming pool, fitness center and wireless Internet. The Holiday Inn has suites with a Jacuzzi and two rooms, but the price is higher than the standard room.
The price range is anywhere from $94.99 to $159 plus tax; however, a special rate of $85 plus tax is given to anybody associated with Texas A&M University-Commerce.
The staff of Holiday Inn is comprised of about 15 people, two of them college students.
The Commerce Inn has a central location across the street from the campus. It consists of 17 rooms, and can be rented on a weekly basis if desired. The amenities include a microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker and wireless Internet.
The price charged per night is $44.25 plus tax. The price charged weekly is $177 plus tax.
The staff is comprised of three people: the two owners and a housekeeper. No college students are employed.
The Commerce Inn has stood in Commerce for about 50 years, so some maintenance problems like plumbing are expected; however, claims to the revamping of the inside and outside of the building have been made.
The University Inn has a less noticeable location off of U.S. Highway 50. It contains 60 rooms that can hold a maximum of four people each. The amenities include a conference room, bar and lounge open to anybody to rent and an outdoor swimming pool.
Prices at the University Inn range from $39.99 to $54.99 plus tax; however, college and state employee discounts are available.
A representative of The University Inn said they have made positive changes. They are said to be cleaner with no bugs or rodents, safe under police observation and based around the customer’s satisfaction.
These three motels are able to see the direct effect the college has on business in Commerce.
“Our business comes from the college,” Harry Singh, University Inn Manager said. “If there wasn’t a college, I don’t know why anybody would come to Commerce.”