So many things have changed at what is now Wyndham Garden in Warsaw.
But some things have stayed the same.
Primarily, Bruce and Steve Shaffner still own what is formerly the Ramada and Bennigan’s on East Center Street in Warsaw.
The staff remains in place with Mike Stetzel still serving as the general manager.
“Most hotel licenses are good for 15 years,” explained Bruce Shaffner. “Ours was up in February. We started thinking about a change over the last couple of years knowing our license was coming up. So we started exploring different opportunities.”
The group considered three different options for a new hotel brand.
Wyndham made the most sense as it is the parent company of Ramada, said Stetzel, and there was already a built-in relationship there.
Typically, Wyndham Garden locations are reserved for larger, more metropolitan areas.
Shaffner said that with the amount of orthopedic companies and worldwide headquarters in the area, Wyndham representatives were willing to make an exception.
To fulfill requirements laid forth by Wyndham, the 157-room hotel is now smoke free.
In preparation for a change, work on the hotel began a year ago.
Rooms have seen a color change and all have flatscreen TVs now.
The rooms were redone with new windows, and 75 rooms saw new heating and cooling units put in.
All new bedding was installed, and each room has a new aesthetic with new drapes and interior design.
Desk chairs in rooms are currently being changed out for ergonomic ones.
Those changes have kept the staff pretty busy during the already hectic summer months for a hotel.
Stetzel said that he hopes to market to local people who are bringing in clients from out-of-town as well as friends or family.
“The thing about Wyndham Garden is that the experience is at the same level whether you’re here or in a bigger city,”âsaid Shaffner. “That’s part of the draw of the Wyndham brand. Customers know what to expect.”
New signage for the hotel went up in mid-May.
More changes are in the works, and after things have settled down the hotel plans for a grand opening event in September.
“We just want to let people know that we are still the only locally owned hotel in Warsaw,” said Shaffner. “We support the community and are proud to be a part of this community.”
Follow staff writer Daniel Riordan on Twitter at @TUNews_Riordan
