Corbin Holiday Inn Express under new ownership

The Holiday Inn Express in Corbin is under new ownership.

General Manager Barry Meadows confirmed the 64-room hotel off of Exit 25, formerly ownedCorbin Host LLC has sold.

According to the deed filed at the Whitley County Clerk’s Office, the hotel has been sold to Pine Tree Apartments, LLC out of Lexington for $4.5 million.

Meadows said the hotel will be operated by Rainmaker Hospitality out of Lexington.

The company currently operates 12 hotels in Kentucky, including the Holiday Inn Express locations in Georgetown, Nicholasville, Richmond and Berea.

“We are excited about becoming part of the Rainmaker family. They are really good at what they do,” Meadows said.

Along with new owners, Meadows said the hotel will be getting a completely new look.

Over the next year, the hotel, including the 41 regular rooms and 23 suites, will be undergoing renovations. The cost is estimated at $1.6 million.

“They are going to tear it down to the studs,” Meadows said noting the project would be completed in phases to allow the hotel to remain open during the project.

Among the changes will be 43-inch, high definition televisions in each of the rooms, new bathroom lights installed behind the mirrors, and soap dispensers in place of the traditional soap bars.

In addition, the meeting rooms will be expanded. Drop down video screens will be installed in an effort to better serve the business community.

“We are turning more business oriented,” Meadows said.

One traditional item that will remain is phones in the room.

Even though the majority of people carry a cell phone, Meadows said the in-room phone is an important safety feature.

“If the phone is knocked off the hook and remains off the hook for 10 seconds, the front desk is notified there may be a problem in the room,” Meadows explained. “The guest may have a medical issue and need help.”

The hotel was built by John Bill Keck and Ronnie Centers. It opened its doors in 2000.