FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Complimentary breakfast, comfortable rooms with flat screen TVs and laundry facilities are the amenities of a three-star hotel. But those are just a few of the features of a new Army Lodging facility at Fort Jackson.
The Fort Jackson Inn, a 209-room hotel located behind the Soldier Support Institute at 7550 Benning Road, officially opened for business with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday.
"The hotel was designed to meet commercial industry standards," said Lisa Leavell, hotel assistant manager. "Our customers will feel like they are staying in a nice hotel comparable or better than what they would find off post."
The $27-million, four-story hotel has 100 standard rooms, 100 suites and nine extended stay rooms. Each room features high-speed Internet, kitchenettes, 27-inch flat screen TVs with DVD players, recliners and study desks. The facility also has a fitness center, two study rooms, complimentary laundry facilities and free continental breakfast. The modern front-desk area features several sitting areas and the breakfast area sports a large TV.
"The new hotel is another step in improving our lodging facilities on Fort Jackson," said Rose Ann Turner, chief of business operations for Fort Jackson's Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. "We are committed to providing Soldiers with high quality on-post transient lodging that meets mission requirements and Army Lodging standards."
The welcome center, which served as a front desk operation center for all Army Lodging on Fort Jackson and was previously located on Strom Thurmond Boulevard just inside Gate 2, was moved to the new facility.
"It just made sense to have our front desk operation in a hotel setting," Leavell said. "It is also closer to our other facilities, such as Dozier Hall, and it is also closer to the Soldier Support Institute, which accounts for many of our customers."
Turner said moving the welcome center to the hotel also helps to boost the impression of Fort Jackson to Army Lodging customers.
"The new facility creates a positive first impression of Fort Jackson," Turner said. "It is ADA accessible and has an improved phone system, which will better accommodate travelers calling to make reservations."
The addition of the new hotel boosts the number of rooms available at Fort Jackson to 1,437, something Leavell said will help alleviate the need for Soldiers and civilians to stay off post.
"Right now, with the present inventory, we do not foresee having to place people off post until the summer of 2011," Leavell said. "Residing on post is of great convenience for our guests, reducing the commute to training and graduation ceremonies."
Fort Jackson now has five lodging facilities; Fort Jackson Inn, Kennedy Hall, Dozier Hall, Palmetto Lodge and Magruder Transient.
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