Salina's Homewood Suites hotel is having success downtown

Bringing a downtown hotel to Salina helps the city thrive. With a high occupancy rate, Homewood Suites on Santa Fe Avenue is serving as a focal point for organizations and driving visitors to downtown.

High-end furnishings and friendly staff welcome visitors to Homewood Suites by Hilton Salina Downtown. This extended stay hotel is located blocks away from some of the city’s top attractions and dining options.

Opened in June 2020, the hotel includes 113 pet-friendly suites catering to travelers looking for spacious rooms for an extended stay. According to General Manager Michelle Jensen, the hotel runs in the high 80 percentile for occupancy.

A peek inside

Each suite features an open floor plan with a living room, dining space and kitchen complete with a full-sized refrigerator, stovetop, dishwasher and microwave. Expansive windows provide views of 28 blocks of historic downtown Salina.

Although Jensen says the addition of Homewood Suites is not a typical model for a small city, it has make a positive impact.

“This is an amazing addition to our downtown and has certainly helped catapult the revitalization efforts,” she said.

More: Looking for a new spice rub? This Kansas man brings new flavors with the love of family

The company went to great lengths to make sure the hotel’s interior design reflected Salina. From brick and tile imprinted with the town’s name to framed photography and historical maps, references to Salina can be seen throughout the hotel.

“We were so fortunate that our designer, between her and Hilton, got the approval to make it so specific to the area,” said Jensen. “It’s not a cookie-cutter hotel. It’s very specific in its design.”

Additionally, sketches by world-renowned artist Birger Sandzén adorn the library’s walls. The artist moved to nearby Lindsburg to teach at Bethany College.

When asked why she wanted to be a part of the hotel’s creation, Jensen gives credit to the owners’ vision.

“I knew who was building it and the quality that was going into it," she said. "I appreciated their passion for the community and for their employees. It was a no-brainer for me…it’s been so exciting to be a part of it.”

Homewood Suites becomes a part of the community

Salina Symphony Executive Director Adrienne Allen feels a similar sense of pride for the hotel.

“Homewood Suites is a treasure for Downtown Salina," she said. "It provides a convenient location for visitors in the newly revitalized downtown, which is especially important for performing arts organizations like the Stiefel Theatre, Theatre Salina and the Salina Symphony.”

Hotel guests have the option to lounge outdoors in the courtyard where live music is often performed under illuminated string lights near a roaring fire pit.

More: Relocated Salina Dollar General turns into a DG Market, will offer fresh produce and meats

“The Symphony has presented several chamber concerts at the Homewood Suites courtyard. It has been a wonderful experience for us to partner with a beautiful downtown venue,” said Allen. “The acoustics were perfect and our audience really enjoyed the atmosphere.”

An evening social hour on Wednesdays gives guests a chance to get to know one another while enjoying complimentary light dinner and adult beverages. YaYa’s Euro Bistro, a short walk from the hotel lobby, serves fine dining on the premises, including Sunday brunch. They also provide room service and a complimentary breakfast is served in the hotel’s dining room.

Other amenities include an on-site fitness room, indoor swimming pool, laundry room, free Wi-Fi and a Starbucks.

Not only does the hotel accommodate individual travelers, but it also serves as event headquarters for conferences. An on-site business center makes remote work possible. For those traveling as a group, they are encouraged to reserve a block of rooms in advance of their arrival.

The five-story hotel, which runs at about $200 per night for a one-bedroom suite, regularly sponsors community events and works closely with the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts and Tony’s Pizza Event Center bringing guests to the hotel.

Lighthouse Properties also owns the award-winning hotel Homewood Suites by Hilton at The Waterfront in Wichita. They also own a boutique hotel, The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection in Kansas City, which earned “Best Historic Hotel” in 2022 from Historic Hotels of America.

Jensen said although the hotel remains popular, parking is a non-issue for guests. Free nearby parking lots and on-street parking accommodate guests.

“From the minute I pull up every morning and I look at this building, I’m proud to walk into it," Jensen said. "We have an amazing team dedicated to providing amazing service. It is a highlight for me every day."

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Homewood Suites in Salina features upper-end furnishings, restaurant