Red Lion enters lodging market

The Guest House Inns North and South are now Red Lion Inns by Hilton, according to Dean Lessley, managing partner of the lodging facilities.

Located at 1610 E. Evergreen and 3370 E. Battlefield, the hotels were originally Mariott hotels and then operated as Guest House Inns for about two years prior to becoming licensed by Red Lion Hotels Inc., a subsidiary of Beverly Hills-based Hilton Hotels Corporation.

"The Guest House affiliation was less than spectacular It just didn't prove beneficial to us with the quality of hotels that we have," Lessley said.

He said Red Lion Hotels & Inns' affiliation with Hilton Hotel Corporation was a major factor in the decision to change the hotels' licenses.

"We knew we wanted to go back to the big leagues and yet be in the same category that we'd been in with Marriott. And that limits your options, obviously, because of the quality of service and quality of facilities that are required," Lessley said.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony already was held at the Red Lion Inn South, and a ceremony for the north-side location will likely be held at a later date, Lessley said. But he added that there won't be any changes at either of the two hotels.

"We had already upgraded our facilities dramatically, back when we went into the Guest House system ... because we wanted to add those facilities like fitness centers, business centers, free hot breakfast buffets ... so we fit well into their system and in fact we're currently above their current brand standards," Lessley said.

Lessley said the two Springfield hotels are the first Red Lion hotels in Missouri, and the next closest Red Lion facility is in Denver.

Lessley and his partners, whom he said are located throughout the United States, also have a third lodging facility in Springfield, the Guest House Suites Plus at 1550 E. Raynell.

(The preceding article originally appeared in the July 9, 2001, issue of the SBJ Daily Update, a subscriber-only service.)