LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / April 29, 2000

ST. ROSE – A multi-story, 130-room Ramada Inn is due to open in summer2001 near the main entrance of James Business Park, according to Edward S. Dufresne Jr. of Luling.Dufresne, a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals judge, is chairman of St. CharlesHotel LLC, which also owns and operates the Ramada Inn in Luling near the Hale Boggs Bridge.

The firm bought the 3.4-acre site across from First American Bank recentlyfor $685,460.

“We believe the site is a prime location for serving the strong mix of corporate, leisure and airport business within the busy airport market,” Dufresne commented.

Though announced as a three-story hotel, Dufresne added it may be altered to a four-story facility for aesthetic purposes. Also, the hotel will house arestaurant, either a Bennigan’s or MacGregor’s Market.

Dufresne said construction of the new hotel will begin this summer and is expected to employ 50 people.

The new-style hotel is a prototype featuring electronic check-in and check- out, fireplace section, cordless phones and other amenities. St. Charles HotelLLC opened the 75-room Ramada Limited in Luling four years ago.

“Our new construction Ramada Inn prototype combines Old World hospitality with New World technology for tomorrow’s traveler,” commented Steven Belmonte, Ramada Franchise Systems president.

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