1997: Corp. Hotel Center To Open

<H1> 1997: Corp. Hotel Center To Open</H1><I>Indianapolis </I>- Inbound business travel to the downtown area will definitely get a shot in the arm when the new $15 million Canal Hotel Center opens in the spring of 1997.

The center, consisting of two new Marriott properties-a 124-room Residence Inn and a 131-room Courtyard-is the first lodging project to open in downtown Indianapolis in more than eight years.

The hotels will cater to transient business travelers and will host local and regional corporate meetings, according to Bruce White, president and CEO of owner-developer White Lodging Service.

"Downtown Indianapolis has emerged as the preferred convention, retail and sports destination of the Midwest," said Deno Yiankes, vice president of development for White Lodging Services. As is the case with all Residence Inn Hotels, he said, the new downtown hotel will be designed specifically to meet the needs of travelers who stay five or more nights.

In keeping with that approach, all suites will feature a fully equipped kitchen with appliances, plus separate living and sleeping areas. The property will include two meeting rooms accommodating up to 85 people, an indoor pool and complimentary grocery shopping service.

The Courtyard, meanwhile, will offer spacious rooms, large work desks, in-room coffee and tea service, reach-anywhere phones and a reasonably priced breakfast buffet.

"With 90 percent of the hotels in downtown Indianapolis serving the convention market, these two hotels, especially the Courtyard property, will afford the corporate transient traveler, who doesn't want to fight convention crowds of 500 or 600 delegates in big hotels, a smaller, quieter atmosphere complete with free parking," said Yiankes.

The Center, expected to create more than 100 permanent jobs, is located in a renovated area along Downtown Canal.

The area is close to the airport and within blocks of downtown offices, the RCA Dome/Convention Center and the Indiana State Capitol.