HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS TO BE BUILT AT PADUCAH

MidAmerica Hotels Corp. of Cape Girardeau has announced plans for construction of a Holiday Inn Express at Paducah, Ky.

"This is a hotel targeted for the traveler who doesn't need or want a restaurant or lounge facilities," said Dan Drury, president and chief executive officer of MidAmerica Hotels.

The hotel, which will feature 71 sleeping rooms, including a combination of master and mini suites, king sofa, and handicapped facilities, will be built at the southeast corner of Highway 60 and Interstate 24. Rooms in the hotel will surround an indoor, open-air atrium highlighted by a centerpiece cascading water fountain. Other amenities will include an indoor pool, whirlpool, exercise facility, a "Great Room" with large screen TV, and complimentary express breakfast.

The hotel construction will be part of a Total Hospitality Center, a concept being developed by the company for the Paducah site, which contains about 18 acres.

The development will be called Paducah West Hospitality Center, and includes plans for additional hotels, restaurants, service and recreational facilities. The development currently contains a Burger King owned and operated by Drury Restaurants Inc., a division of MidAmerica Hotels Corp., and an Appleby's Restaurant, operated by De Stock Inc.

Site work and construction of the hotel will begin in May.

"The target date for completion is from nine months to a year," said Drury, who added that Florence and Hutcheson Inc. Engineering Consultants of Paducah and Holshouser and Associates architects of Cape Girardeau are in the final phase of preparation.

The hotel will be a three-story building. "An additional 30-room expansion is already pre-engineered into the planning concept," said Drury.

MidAmerica Hotels Corp. owns and operates 18 Burger Kings; Holiday Inns at Cape Girardeau and St. Louis, Victorian Inn at Cape Girardeau, and Auburn Outdoor Advertising Co.