May, May & McReynolds LLC, of Boise, Idaho, which owns the Spokane House hotel, at 4301 W. Sunset Highway, has affiliated the establishment with the Travelodge Hotels Inc. hospitality chain to boost business at that local landmark.


Built in 1955, the 89-room establishment was a dining, wine, and entertainment hot spot here for many years. The hotel, now called Spokane Travelodge/Spokane House, had seen a decline in business after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but already is benefiting from Travelodge affiliation, says General Manager Joe Mathis.


Weve seen a marked improvement in reservations, Mathis says. The franchise has helped. Looking for new guests is a little easier with a brand name.


Much of the hotels business comes from referrals from the American Automobile Association and travel agencies now, he says.


Travelodge boasts about 600 locations throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, but theres only one other Travelodge in Spokane, says Wayne Paupst, who owns that hotel, which is at 33 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.


May, May & McReynolds LLC bought the Spokane House from Ted Watkins, of Spokane, in 1999. The company also owns the 100-room Owyhee Hotel, in Boise, and the 130-room Nautical Inn Resort & Conference Center, in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Mathis says.


The hotel here is a five-story structure that includes a large dining room, offering a view of downtown Spokane, and banquet facilities for up to 100 people.


It originally was called the Desert Caravan. The hotel is in the process of buying new furniture, which should be in place by the end of this month, Mathis says.