Exterior work on the new hotel at the Fisher College of Business is almost complete, despite a recent economic slowdown.

Doug Koyle, general manager of the Roger D. Blackwell Inn at Fisher College, said he is hopeful the hotel will be completed on time, no matter what state the economy is in.

“There’s an uncertainty and you never know how the Inn will be impacted,” he said. “We’re still optimistic for the future.”

The eight-story Blackwell Inn is scheduled to be completed between April and June 2002 and will begin accepting reservations for June 1, he said.

Koyle said the Inn is primarily being constructed to support the business community.

“It’s really designed for executives who need an office away from the office,” he said.

The hotel will help support programs offered through the Fisher College of Business, Koyle added.

“Our main vision is to support Fisher College’s executive education programs, which is continued education for corporate partners,” he said.

In a statement, Joseph Alutto, dean of the Fisher College of Business, said he is looking forward to making a connection between the school and the business community.

“It also provides business leaders with opportunities to work with our faculty, through research activities and especially through executive education,” he said. “A strong executive education component, including convenient accommodations for its participants, is an essential part of every top quality, comprehensive business education program.”

The hotel will feature 151 rooms, including a presidential suite and nine junior suites. Rooms in the hotel will feature cordless phones, high-speed Internet connection and VCRs.

In addition to the in-room features, the hotel will have 24-hour room service, valet parking and concierge service.

“We’ve got a lot of features you don’t normally get elsewhere on campus,” Koyle said.

The Holiday Inn on Lane Avenue, which emphasizes its guest services over new technology, believes the new hotel will help bring people to the area and will not hurt their business long-term, reservation revenue manager Bruce Farley said.

“They’ll probably take some curiosity business, but we’ll get it back eventually,” he said.

The Blackwell Inn hopes to achieve AAA’s four-diamond rating, which is awarded for quality service and appearance.

The Inn will also hire students who want to work in hotels and restaurants to give them experience with industry professionals, Koyle said.

Serving as construction manager for the project is Bovis Lend Lease, which oversees the other subcontracts. Craig Henry and Scott Conion are serving as the university’s architects.

Instead of using student money to cover the cost of the construction, the Fisher College borrowed $30 million from a state fund.

Groundbreaking for the hotel took place in Sept. 2000.