Won Do Cho is a busy man. Carrying boxes of new phones and mattress covers for the soon-to-be Super 8, Cho also juggles questions coming from staff and the ringing telephone.
“I’m just running around,” he said of the past few months. “I hope it’s still this busy, not because of this,” he said looking down at boxes of things still needing to be put away, “but because of business,” he said, smiling.
Scheduled to open at the end of July, Cho is eager to have everything ready by September 15, the date he said the Super 8 franchise will take over the Highwayman Motor Inn located on 42 Avenue just off the QEII for the past 30 years.
Cho said he started to look into becoming part of the Super 8 franchise two years ago when the economy tanked.
“It got to the point where I had to decide to fully renovate or go with a franchise,” he said. “Most people prefer the franchise, not the older style (hotel),” he added, explaining his decision.
Cho said waiting to get approved for a loan to start renovations and pay into the franchise slowed the start of renovations. Then with the long winter, and heavy rains over spring, things slowed again.
Cho, from Calgary, has since moved into the hotel to help oversee the work, and answer questions coming from various workers.
Last week, construction on the additional 30 bedrooms and renos on the current 20 were in full swing. So was completing the continental breakfast nook and the makeover of the front lobby.
The lounge renos have been completed and he said some changes to the bathrooms and restaurant still need to be finished.
His building will offer a test run with the restaurant and lounge for the Super 8 company.
“We will be the only full service Super 8,” said Cho. “I had a lounge and restaurant already and said I couldn’t give it up.”
Cho’s eager to see the renovations complete and hopes to stick to the September 15 date. “Hotel business is easy. If the economy is good, business is good. If the economy is bad, well,” he said, trailing off.
Cho currently employs 12 staff and hopes to hire more for the bigger building once everything is complete.
