The Charter House Inn has been a landmark place to stay in Bainbridge for many years, dating back to when it was first built in the mid-1960s as a Holiday Inn.
As of Dec. 31, 2013, it has become a Howard Johnson franchise as part of the Wyndham chain, a new name adding to years of history.
Local hotel owners are Mike Harrell and Charles Bowles. Bowles said they had started the process of going with a nationally known franchise about eight months ago and finally elected to go with the Wyndham Group, of which Howard Johnson is a division.
Bowles said the biggest advantage to having a nationally known franchise name is the hookup to their reservation system and giving potential guests assurance of the quality they can expect.
The public can expect to see big changes beginning immediately, according to Bowles.
Top priority is the upgrading of the public restrooms on the first floor, and total renovation of the 86 guest rooms currently being used.
The swimming pool and landscaping are also on the list of expected upgrades. Bowles said some thought is also being given to converting the rooms in the back of the building, currently not being utilized, into extended stay facilities.
“We intend to make this the best exterior corridor motel in Bainbridge,” Bowles added.
Room rates will be set by Wyndham Corp. according to results of geographical studies of the local market, and Bowles said he expects them to be very competitive with other facilities in the area.