Month: May 2017

Johnson Development Company, the owners and operators of the Hampton Inn Dirksen of Springfield IL, today announced that the former Hampton Inn at 3185 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield IL undergo an estimated $ 1.5 million renovation to become the newest member of the Wingate hotel chain, by Wyndham International.

The Hampton is scheduled to transition to Wingate June, 1st 2017, the four-story, the 124-room hotel will feature some notable upgrades, including enhanced and re-designed commercial space, meeting rooms and guest rooms. Guest rooms will feature new 40-inch flat screen televisions, microwaves and refrigerators, and individual guest room safes. We’re excited to be joining the Wingate by Wyndham family and are looking forward to providing our guests with the high-quality accommodations that the brand is known for, at a price that is affordable.

Recently, our team at Hampton Southwest has had the opportunity to apply for a 2017 Travel With Purpose Action Grant from Hilton and, upon their recent approval, is to be able to provide more to their local community. While serving a meal each month to the guests of the house they have had the opportunity to interact with many RMH guests. Each story involves a precious child who is receiving medical care at a nearby hospital. RMH believes families are stronger when they are together and the house provides a caring, home-like atmosphere that helps reduce the stress load these families are bearing. RMH doesn’t ask for any monetary contribution from the families who stay with them, allowing families to focus on what is most important – their child’s health.

Through the time they’ve spent with these families, they’ve identified a need that they’d love to be able to fulfill. While their local Ronald McDonald House provides a warm, inviting atmosphere, the team would love the opportunity to extend that feeling beyond the walls of the House with a Healing Garden. The Garden would offer itself as a welcome to everyone who steps outside and walks along the winding path. It’s envisioned as a place to provide some therapeutic needs of the families during their stay at the House – offering ample opportunities for gatherings, moments of quiet reflection, and of course relaxation.

During National Travel and Tourism Week, the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau recognizes local Legends In Tourism at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum & Library. In 2016 our very talented Team Members at the Hampton Inn and Suites Springfield-Southwest received two highly honorable awards; The Legendary Hospitality Award – Awarded to a hospitality partner that goes the extra mile to create excellent guest experiences, and The Legendary Community Care Award – Awarded to an organization that gives back to the community.

Over the past year the team at Hampton Southwest has caught on fire with enthusiasm becoming a force in the hospitality community for giving back to this great city. It all started with an idea; one where the staff would complete 31 service projects in the 31 days of October. It was a hefty project for a month that the hotel experienced nearly an 85% occupancy. The team rallied and together brought this idea of “Hands on Hamptonality” to life.

The team sprang into action and completed other projects like delivering breakfast to our local fire department, serving dinner at the Ronald McDonald house, and baking fresh banana bread and giving to other service oriented industry workers. Hampton Southwest collected socks for local shelters and delivered old blankets to the APL to be used in their shelter space. The team even performed a concert at the Senior Services Center of Illinois while providing an afternoon dessert. Other ideas included a canned food drive, and delivering hygiene kits to a local shelter.

The best part is the team has continued their volunteer efforts ever since. The Ronald McDonald house has become a major focus, participating each month in the guest chef program. Our staff also makes baby blankets and even “premie” hats for the Ronald McDonald House to distribute to families when staying in the house. Hampton Southwest also continues to be very involved at the Senior Services Center. Last December, we performed a Christmas concert program while serving the seniors there a lunch and dessert, and another concert for Valentine’s Day.