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Gov. Phil Bryant Helps Break Ground on New Tru by Hilton Hotel
Charter Road Hospitality, Inc. and Governor Phil Bryant welcomed the Oxford and Lafayette community to the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Tru by Hilton hotel on Tuesday, Dec. 12. Tru is the newest brand created by Hilton and is geared toward efficiency and relaxation.
Chan Patel, the managing partner of Charter Road Hospitality Inc., moved to Oxford over 25 years ago with his family. Patel was born in Zimbabwe in southern Africa and became interested in entrepreneurship at an early age by helping in his family business. In 1990, when Patel was just 19 years old, his family moved to Oxford to purchase the historic Ole Miss Motel. Over the next two decades, the Patel family business in Oxford grew to also include the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Hampton Inn and Suites-West, Hampton Inn and Suites-Conference Center, and TownePlace Suites by Marriott.
“Our family began our journey in the hotel business in 1990 when we moved here from Zimbabwe,” Patel said. “My father purchased the Ole Miss Motel. We lived there, worked there and grew that into what we have today.”
With the groundbreaking of the new hotel, Patel and his family can add another hotel to their list of accomplishments. The new Tru by Hilton hotel will have over 100 guest rooms, complimentary breakfast and WiFi, state-of-the-art fitness center, 55-inch televisions in each room, and a 2,800 square foot lobby.
“Each room at this property will be smart and efficient, full of everything that matters most,” Patel said. “The rooms will have comfortable platform beds, extra large televisions, and eight-foot windows. The lobby is massive and will have room for guests to eat, work, lounge and play. We will also offer a reliable price point in the competitive market today. ”
The growth of the Patel family business also means growth for the Oxford hospitality industry, tourist industry and job market. Currently, Charter Road Hospitality employs 120 workers and the Tru by Hilton hotel will increase that number to 150.
“We are really excited about this project,” Patel said. “The Hilton brand has 470 hotels in various stages of development and is the fastest growing hotel brand in the industry. The Tru by Hilton property in Oxford will add 104 units, bringing Charter Road Hospitality’s total room count in Oxford to 448 units.”
Governor Phil Bryant was present at the groundbreaking today to tell the Oxford and Lafayette community about his excitement for the growth of Oxford and the Patel family business.
“People who stay here from all over the world will come, certainly, to enjoy the sports and the sights and sounds of the University of Mississippi,” Byrant said. “But they may also come here if they have a loved one at the new Baptist hospital and medical center that is here. They may come here to see William Faulkner’s beloved home. They may come here to extend and travel on the Blue’s Trail. For any reason that they come, they will know that they will have a wonderful and safe environment in which to stay because the Tru hotel by Hilton will make sure that that’s going to happen, and the Patel family will guarantee it.”
See the full address by Governor Bryant below:
Amy Goodin is a writer for HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at argoodin12
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