New ownership says major property upgrades, improved customer service and a commitment to the community will revitalize what once was Galesburg’s premier hotel.
Brothers Nick, HP and Mike Patel of Savannah, Georgia, purchased the Best Western Prairie Inn & Conference Center, 300 S. Soangetaha Road, from Galesburg Properties LLC on Sept. 12.
Guest rooms already have undergone complete modernization/remodels, and plans call for upgrades to the entire facility — including the meeting and conference rooms, the front lobby, and eventually the bar and restaurant.
Nick Patel, who will manage the Galesburg property with his nephew Ricky Patel, tells WGIL, “The previous owner, who is a friend of ours, was looking to retire. He wanted to make sure it got to the right people who could take it to the next level.
“We are very optimistic. In our short time here, the people have been extremely friendly and helpful.”
HP Patel said prior to taking ownership of the Best Western Prairie Inn, his family — which operates four other hotels — inspected all 140-plus guest rooms. Most of the guest rooms had recently been modernized with new furniture, beds, TVs and carpet under previous ownership.
Randy Newcomb, executive director of Galesburg Tourism and Visitors Bureau, toured the property last week, and came away impressed with the upgrades.
Tourism director: ‘It’s updated and modern. They’ve done an outstanding job.’
“It’s updated and modern,” Newcomb said. “They’ve done an outstanding job.”
Nick Patel said his family will continue phased improvements to the Prairie Inn. The bar is open and the restaurant currently serves breakfast. The facility also includes an indoor pool, large meeting and banquet facilities and an outdoor wedding venue.
“We want to upgrade both our bar and restaurant,” Patel said. “And we eventually want the restaurant to be open regular hours.
“And one of the things we found attractive to this property were the large banquet hall and meeting facilities.”
Newcomb says meeting space will boost tourism efforts.
“We desperately need meeting space in Galesburg,” he said. “A large meeting facility with different meeting rooms would give us the opportunity to go after meetings and conferences, something we really haven’t been able to do.
“If they are able to complete their plan, their vision will be great for the Galesburg community. And I was very impressed with how they want to work with the community. It seems like they will be a great partner.”
‘A great addition to the region’s business community’
Nick Patel said they have received a warm welcome to Galesburg, noting ownership already has been with officials from tourism, economic development, the city and the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce.
“We’ve had great meetings with our community partners,” Patel said. “They were all very surprised when they walked in and could see what we have to offer. I cannot comment on what people thought of the property in the past, but we are looking to the future and plan to upgrade the property the best we can.
“We would love to work with other businesses, the city and tourism to bring more visitors to Galesburg. It’s kind of an eco system, so hopefully we can all grow together. We are looking forward to and would love to play our part.
Patel added, “Our family works well together, and we think working together we can provide a great synergy and great product.”
Ken Springer, president of Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development, said the Best Western Prairie Inn under new ownership will be a “great addition to the region’s business community.”
“I had a chance to meet with Nick and his team recently and KCAP is excited to work with the new ownership group of the Best Western Prairie Inn,” Springer said. “I think they have a really good understanding of the local market and are going to be a great addition to the region’s business community.
“Overnight visitors contribute a lot to our economy. As such, we need to have strong options in the lodging sector to accommodate those visitors.”