New Hotel Opens In Former Comfort Inn Location On Trinity

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on November 21, 2024
- 10:57 am

The Wingate hotel is open for business in the former Comfort Inn location at 2455 Trinity Dr. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

The Patel family is engrained in the hospitality business. Sunny Patel opened his first hotel in the 1970s and now the Patels operate hotels in Arizona, Colorado, and then in 2019, Los Alamos. Patel’s son, Sheetal, now heads the business, and he decided to purchase the former Comfort Inn at 2455 Trinity Dr., now named Wyngate and part of the Wyndham brand.

Patel explained that, besides the hospitality industry, he owns a law firm that deals with intellectual property and his work brought him to Los Alamos National Laboratory, which introduced him to Los Alamos.

“It seems like a good, nice, clean town…,” Patel said.

In addition to a new name, the hotel is getting a facelift, he said. The exterior has been changed as well as the hotel’s common areas. The plan is to upgrade the rooms, too, to have new flooring, paint, wallpaper and furniture.

It is not just its appearance that is being addressed; Patel said the family-run business strives to treat its guests like family.

“If you are staying with us, you should feel like you are home,” he said.

Guests are not just numbers, Patel said, the goal is to create a nice atmosphere and culture inside the hotel.

For instance, the plan is to include a variety of amenities like board games, a pool table and other activities. Sheetal said guests shouldn’t feel like they need to be cooped up in their room.
He commended the County and the public for its support.

“It is just an easy community to work with,” Patel said. “The process is relatively straight forward. The township was really easy to work with respect to anything we needed to do for the hotel.”

The feeling is mutual, Los Alamos Chamber Director Sandy Jones said.

“Owner Sheetal Patel works hard to create pathways for employee growth and responsibilities at all of his properties. He supports local communities where he does business,” she said. “The Wyndham brand is well-known as a top choice for travelers who need efficient, connected accommodations. The hotel is centrally located in Los Alamos, so it allows a visitor to really see and participate in the life of downtown Los Alamos if they wish, during their visit. With the renovations he has undertaken and those he plans in the future, guests will surely appreciate the thoughtful designs.”

Running a hotel business is a whole different world than running a law firm, Patel said.

“In hospitality, I get to work with different people from different backgrounds … it just broadens my horizons a little,” he said. “It sharpens my people skills a little.”

He also strives to give back to the communities where his hotels are located in.

“We try to give back to our community,” Patel said. “You try to help the next person down.”

For instance, at their hotel in Kingman, Ariz., Patel said they donate to the police department to help support its cadet programs. The hope is to do something similar in Los Alamos with the police and fire departments.

Patel said they also want to help hotel employees as much as possible.

Planning a grand opening celebration is also in the works, Patel said. The idea is to host one in March or April.

For more information or to book a room, visit Wingate.