Well-known Hotel Brand Opens Next-Generation Location : ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine

The Holiday Inn opened it's fiifth 21st Century hotel recently. Geared toward the up-and-coming Generation X, it features a modern, innovative design that still resonates with iconic Holiday Inn heritage. The 116-room hotel in Manahawkin, N.J. was developed to be more efficient to build, operate and maintain. Holiday Inn's prototype next-generation hotel opened in Duluth, Ga., a few miles north of Atlanta, in January 2004.

"We are proud to welcome the Holiday Inn Manahawkin-Long Beach Island property to the Holiday Inn family," said Mark Snyder, senior vice president of brand management, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts.

"With this next-generation hotel design, Holiday Inn has arrived at the perfect convergence of tradition and innovation that will define the Holiday Inn of the future, offering the value and authenticity business travelers and families expect from this beloved brand. The Holiday Inn Manahawkin-Long Beach Island represents the new face of the brand which will redefine guest comfort in towns across America."

The next-generation design debuts a bold change in room décor for Holiday Inn, creating a residential atmosphere that features iconic representations of the brand's history throughout the hotel. The bedspreads and carpet display simple, organic patterns in stand-out colors like eggplant, and each guestroom features a newly designed breakaway armoire that allows guests to see the TV from anywhere in the room. Upgraded features like faux leather ottomans, a variety of lamps, refrigerators and granite vanities will all be standard in each room.

The residential design includes business-focused necessities like an ergonomic work station, data ports, complimentary high speed Internet access, WiFi capabilities and AT&T VoIP phone systems, which will allow guests to conduct conference calls for up to six participants even while using their computer online. In addition, each room has the standard Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations — comfortable double, queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, cable television, hairdryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board.

The Holiday Inn Manahawkin-Long Beach Island also offers a variety of other amenities such as an indoor pool, fitness center, business center, car rental desk, live entertainment and same day laundry and valet. With 18,000-sq. ft. of function space; one large ballroom that breaks into four meeting rooms, the hotel is available for business meetings and banquets. An outdoor gazebo located poolside is also available for special events.

Throughout the $12 million hotel, guests will see artwork reflecting memorable images from Holiday Inn's history, including founder Kemmons Wilson departing his Holiday Inn jet, a stylized version of the Great Sign — the iconic beacon that came to embody the brand — and the Great Sign as a '50s-style movie set backdrop.

The new hotel features Perkins Restaurant and Bakery, serving three meals a day, seven days a week, operated by Ram Hotels. Room Service Right…On Time™, a standard at all Holiday Inn hotels, ensures that guests' room service orders are accurate and delivered on time, every time. The hotel's lounge, Lakeside Cocktail Lounge, serves light fare and drinks.