By Davi Stuhlsatz

HAYSVILLE –A new Sleep Inn hotel, located on the Haysville turnpike access road at I-35 and 71st Street, had its first guests this past Thursday.

“We are very excited to bring the ‘Designed to Dream’ concept to South Wichita,” said Ankur Patel, general manager. 

The interior design features soothing natural green and mahogany colors in the lobby and 54 rooms.

The rooms include a two-room king suite, two Jacuzzi suites, seven standard  suites and 44 rooms with a king-sized bed or two queens.

“We also have a fitness room and saltwater pool and hot tub,” said Patel. “The salt water is gentler on skin than chlorinated water.”

Patel is the son of developer Hasu Patel, who also owns Express Inn and Suites in Goddard, Park City and Andover. 

In 2011, the city council approved $3 million of industrial revenue bonds for the project and a transient guest tax rebate which would return 75 percent of the collected tax, not to exceed $28,000, for marketing and advertising.

Hasu had originally proposed a Best Western for Derby several years ago, but the city gave the go-ahead to Hampton Inn instead.

The new Sleep Inn hotel in Haysville employs 10 people.