by Sean McManus
Staff Writer
When the economy heads a little bit south, business travel wanes. But business travel lately has been waning for other reasons, too. That’s why Hampton Inn on the Southbank is touting value as its primary selling point.
The hotel on Prudential Drive, which is four-years-old and has 118 rooms, is still plugging away, booking business people who have business downtown.
“We get a lot of regulars,” said Christine Mazzuchelli, who was promoted to general manager last month. “People who consistently have business in Jacksonville come back to us.”
The hotel, which only has one meeting space, a 1,000 square-foot room that Mazzuchelli said works well for 20-person board meetings, is not considered full-service, meaning there’s no restaurant, banquet, or catering facilities. But the free “deluxe” continental breakfast is a nice touch — there’s everything from eggs and bacon to cereal and coffee.
“And the thing that makes Hampton Inn special is the 100 percent guest satisfaction guarantee,” said Mazzuchelli. “Any employee of Hampton Inn can sign off on a free room for an unsatisfied guest. It really makes guests feel secure in their decision to stay here.”
There are about 35 employees working at the Hampton Inn at any given time. The management team is small; there are three department heads assisting Mazzuchelli.
Hampton Inn is owned by Landcom Hospitality Management, which owns two other hotels in Jacksonville — a Holiday Inn in Orange Park and a Residents Inn on Butler Boulevard. Mazzuchelli got her start with Landcom at the Holiday Inn.
Rooms go for about $89 on the weekends and $99 during the week. There are five rooms with king size beds and jacuzzis — they go for about $130.
According to Mazzuchelli, anywhere from 60-75 percent of Hampton Inn’s business is corporate, and their busiest days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Their busiest months are February and March.
“We contribute that to the general wave of corporate America, Mazzuchelli said. “That’s when sales people are really getting on the road.”
But Mazzuchelli said that her hotel also books a fair amount of weekend traffic — for weddings and other downtown leisure travelers. They also get overflow from bigger hotels like the Hilton.
Hampton Inns are owned individually by franchisers, but a recent merger between Hampton Inn and Hilton Hotels means that Hampton is part of the Hilton Honors Program so travelers can “double dip,” earning points for air travel and for future hotel visits each time they check in.
Mazzuchelli’s sales manager knows all the local businesses, especially the ones on the Southbank. She said it’s nice just to be able to walk through the park [Treaty Oak] to make sales calls.”
But Hampton Inn also works with the Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau to get the word out to perspective travelers. “But we’ve got a great brand,” said Mazzuchelli, “so that makes it easier.”
And Mazzuchelli said that they are fortunate that there are so many good restaurants on the Southbank.
“We can pretty much recommend anything around us and we know people won’t be disappointed.”
But Hampton Inn does tout value, so that means many of the guests are more Landing than they are Wine Cellar.
As for the Super Bowl, Ron Johnson, president of Landcom, said he expects that the Hampton Inn will, like all hotels downtown, be booked.
“Of course it will be good for us,” he said. “We will work with the City and the CVB and the NFL to put our best foot forward.”