Holiday Inn continues its upgrade

The Holiday Inn in downtown Burbank recently completed the second phase of a $15-million renovation project that included a more modern ballroom and restaurant as well as an expanded fitness center.

The full remodel of the 485-room hotel, located at 150 E. Angeleno Ave., should be completed by next April, according to Erika Hofmann, the hotel’s director of operations.

General Manager Chris Haven said the improvements are meant to bring the hotel up to date and compete with new rivals, such as a six-story, 210-room Hilton Garden Inn that received city approval in April and will be built on the corner of South San Fernando Boulevard and Verdugo Avenue.

“We want to attract new people, and … we want to look as good as these new hotels that come into town, too,” Haven said. “We have the best service in town and we want our face to go with it.”

The Holiday Inn consists of two 19-story towers, both of which will be repainted. The hotel’s 102 suites, lobby, cocktail lounges and ballroom were remodeled with a new paint job and furnishings in the second phase of the renovation.

Haven also said the hotel’s restaurant was reopened and renamed The People’s Choice.

In addition, the hotel’s fitness center saw several improvements.

“It was a small room with just a couple tread climbers. It was just basic,” she said. “Where now we have a brand new room, brand new location … it has all new equipment in there.”

The rooms in one of the towers have already been revamped, and the final phase will include remodeling the rooms in the hotel’s other tower and finishing exterior work.

Haven said in a statement that the remodel will hopefully help the Holiday Inn capture a customer base outside of its established clientele of business travelers.

“With Burbank emerging as a first-rate travel destination and with tourism on the upswing, our goal is to have the downtown Burbank Holiday Inn exceed guest expectations,” she said.

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