New Monahans hotel

MONAHANS When Robert Martinez and his crew started construction on a Holiday Inn Express in Fort Stockton last year, he said it was difficult to find places for his workers to stay because area hotel rooms were in such demand from oil and gas hands.

"Now I have oil people coming by asking us for work," Martinez said.

But Martinez, supervisor with OMA Construction, said his crew hasn't been lacking for jobs. He spends most days overseeing construction on a 61-room Comfort Inn & Suites in Monahans. Then each night, he drives to Fort Stockton to check on finishing touches on the Holiday Inn Express, which is shooting for an August opening.

On top of that, he's also in charge of construction on two new hotels in the Amarillo area.

Nina Chopra, who will own the new Comfort Inn & Suites with husband Arun Chopra, said she originally planned the hotel when the area was booming with activity.

"At that time, business was good because of the oilfield," said Nina Chopra, who already owns the America's Best Value Colonial Inn in Monahans. "People didn't have a place to stay, so they needed good new motels."

And even though the hotels aren't quite as packed now, Chopra said she still has high expectations for the hotel.

"We all are very excited," she said.

The three-story hotel, which Chopra hopes to open by the end of 2009, will have an indoor pool, fitness room, meeting room and flat-screen televisions in each room, she said. Rooms will go for more than $100 a night.

Overall, Morse Haynes, Monahans economic development director, said hotels in the city continue to succeed.

"It's slowed down a little bit in the last couple months, but they're still doing good," he said.

Easy access at the Interstate 20 interchange with Highway 18 makes for a good location for business, Haynes said. A Best Western opened there in 2006 and a 24-hour Huddle House restaurant opened there last year.

A Holiday Inn Express is also being considered for the interchange, Haynes said.

"They haven't made the decision to come yet," he said. "We're still working on that."

In the meantime, Chopra said the wooden frame of the Comfort Inn & Suites rising above the landscape is piquing the interest of local residents. Before it opens, she plans to have an open house to let them check it out.

"From the town, people are very excited," she said. "People are asking us when it will open."