By Don Steen ~ Staff Writer • reporter@psci.net
Pete and Harry Patel, the new owners of Quality Inn & Suites Rockport, hosted the Spencer County Regional Chamber of Commerce for this month’s Morning Brew Thursday morning. The brothers are some of the Chamber’s newest members, taking charge of the hotel in January. Since then, they’ve been working to get the establishment up to their standards.
The Patels had been eying an opportunity to get a foothold in the hospitality industry for quite some time. After a long period of saving, and a fair few false starts, things finally came together when they saw opportunity in Spencer County. Rockport’s Quality Inn, located conveniently just off US 231 and just across the river from the Owensboro area, was too promising to let slip by.
Pete noted the location’s close proximity to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, as well as many other tourist destinations, made it a “perfect opportunity” for a couple of aspiring hoteliers. That’s not to say everything came together easily.
Securing a business loan in the current lending environment was a considerable challenge. The Patels also identified a lot of amenities in the hotel that were in need of updates upon taking ownership.
Guests may note quite a few brand-new features. Everything from the toilets and water softeners to the wireless internet is a fresh install. The Patels have also revamped a number of other amenities, including the breakfast kitchen, exercise room, laundry room, as well as just about every guest room in some way or another. They’ve also brought the indoor pool back online.
Evidence of these ongoing renovations was evident in the meeting room where the Morning Brew was held. Pete called it a metaphor.
On the sidelines of the Chamber meeting were new televisions, microwaves, and every thing else that one might need for a short stay. These, along with new furniture, are due to be installed in the coming weeks. Sourcing products hasn’t been easy, especially with disruptions in international shipping.
To alleviate these issues, Pete noted the hotel has been working with local businesses wherever possible. He also credited the Chamber and Spencer County Visitors Bureau with offering excellent advice on how to network locally and market themselves to visitors.
“There have been a lot of people who supported us along the way,” he said.
Pete summed up the Quality Inn’s goal as “affordable luxury”, offering a safe and convenient place for families to rest in between long bouts of travel, or after an active day at the theme park. Their efforts appear to be paying off, as Google Reviews for the hotel have risen from 3.7 to 4.2 under their tenure so far. Every satisfied customer is a critical victory as the Patels continue to make their mark on the establishment.
“For us, every customer is like a gold mine right now,” said Pete. “We’re getting there one step at a time.”
Chamber Director Kathy Reinke thanked the Patels for hosting the July Morning Brew, the first such event since February. She expects Chamber activities to begin picking back up, with a new website and newsletter on the way. Reinke also looks forward to visiting the Quality Inn again in the future, if only to make use of the convenient meeting room on the first floor.
Featured Image: Harry Patel leads the Chamber of Commerce group on a tour of the new Quality Inn & Suites Rockport. Patel co-owns the property along with his brother, Pete
Left: Owners Pete and Harry Patel welcome the Chamber group to the new Quality Inn & Suites Hotel; Center: Chamber Director Kathy Reinke converses with the Patel Brothers at the new property. Right: Pete and Harry, left and right respectively, laugh with each other while showing the tour group the hotel’s pool area
