Dayton Welcomes New Hotel

DAYTON - Visitors to Dayton will have a new op- tion for a place to sleep this summer. The new 50-room Best Western Plus Dayton Hotel and Suites is expected to open in late April. It is located at the east end of Main Street near the corner at Fourth Street,

The hotel has a large meeting room to seat groups up to 80 people, and a separate large conference room. Both have state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment. The hotel also has an indoor pool and sauna area, and will offer free breakfast and free wi-fi for guests.

General Manager Eleanor Sprecht said the hotel expects to start out with 12 to 15 employees, includ- ing front desk workers and housekeepers. One full-time maintenance person will also be hired. At press time Sprecht said final decisions had been made on hiring, and training of employees will begin by mid-April.

"We will continue to ac- cept applications," Sprecht said. "We keep them for six months."

Sprecht, originally from Boise, moved to Waits- burg last year from Casper, Wyo. She has extensive experience in the hotel in- dustry, including working as a General Manager in similar-sized hotels in Idaho and Wyoming. She and her husband, Gus, have a son, Landon, who attends Waits- burg schools.

Sprecht says the hotel already has several functions booked for this summer and has only a few rooms left for All Wheels Weekend. "We're very pleased with response so far," she said, noting that the hotel is near- ly booked for All Wheels Weekend. The hotel already has reservations for several weddings and other group functions this summer.

The new hotel was devel- oped and is owned by Dr. Derek Duke and his firm, Duke Properties. Duke is a neurosurgeon from Las Vegas who owns several farm properties in Southeast Washington.

Sprecht is employed by Pacific Inns of Portland, which is a hotel management company hired by Duke. The hotel is a fran- chise of Best Western, and use its reservations and marketing services.

The new hotel will in- clude 40 regular rooms and ten suites, which will include separate sitting areas. Sprecht says room rates at the new hotel will run between $110 and $150 per night.

For stays at the Dayton Best Western after May 20, visitors can make reserva- tions online at www.best- western.com or by calling the toll-free reservation line at 855-280-9408. Sprecht says that for stays prior to May 20, visitors should call the hotel at 509-382-4790.