Ramada Oasis to break ground on convention center expansion

Last edited 12:31 p.m., Nov. 4, 2011

Officials with Ramada Oasis Hotel and Convention Center will break ground Nov. 7 on the expansion of its convention center adjacent to the hotel at 2546 N. Glenstone Ave.

The project would add 13,000 square feet to an existing 16,000-square-foot space to accommodate more meeting space and banquet rooms, General Manager Missy Handyside said, declining to disclose costs.

According to a city building permit, the estimated cost of the expansion project is approximately $5.6 million.

Slone Architects was chosen to design the project, while Killian Construction as the general contractor, she said.
 
Construction is scheduled for completion by May 31.

“We are totally refurbishing the existing convention center, and of course, we’ll be expanding over to the hotel within a new convention center lobby and an enclosed walkway that will come in to the hotel,” Handyside said. “Everything now will finally be situated under one roof.”

The Ramada Oasis Hotel and Convention Center is owned by Robert Low, owner of Springfield-based trucking company Prime Inc., under the Ramada Worldwide franchise, Handyside said.

The Ramada Worldwide hotel franchise is administered by the Wyndham Hotel Group, which also includes Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Baymont Inn & Suites, Travelodge, Days Inn, Super 8, Dream Hotels and Knights Inn.

Ramada Worldwide encompasses roughly 900 hotels in about 50 countries according to its Web site.

The Ramada Oasis Hotel is one of two Ramada hotels in Springfield, the other of which is located at 4445 W. Chestnut Expressway. Two others are in Branson, with 24 other Wyndham Hotels in the Springfield and Branson areas combined.

The Springfield Ramada Oasis Hotel houses 173 total guestrooms, an indoor pool, fitness room, business center and a Fire and Ice Restaurant and Bar, according to www.ramadaoasis.com.[[In-content Ad]]