Just ahead of the holiday season, there’s a lot to celebrate at the Holiday Inn Plainview Long Island, which has been acquired by a company that plans to invest in renovating rooms and other facilities.
J Group Corp. has acquired the Holiday Inn Plainview Long Island, an iconic landmark hotel located on the Long Island Expressway Service Road, for $21 million, giving the company its second high-profile hotel along with the Hyatt Wall Street. Laurel Hollow-based J Group Corp., the umbrella company for various companies that own and operate hotels, shopping centers and gas stations, acquired the prime property from Hangtian Capital, a group of hotel owners from China. J Group did the deal with half cash on hand and half financing.
“This hotel has the most convenient location on Long Island,” said J Group Corp. Chairman Shudh Parkash Singh.
The 127-room hotel, with the biggest banquet rooms of any Holiday Inn in Nassau County, is located at Exit 46, near companies such as Canon, Geico, Capital One, Bank of America, Mattress Firm, Leviton, and Grumman Studios.
It also includes Bistro 495 restaurant, a sports bar, a 24-hour fitness center, an outdoor swimming pool, cocktail rooms, and a banquet hall. In addition to welcoming guests, it hosts corporate conferences, reunions, receptions, celebrations and meetings in its eight meeting rooms totaling 6,572 square feet for up to 250 guests. The facilities include AV equipment and catering, all at a centrally located venue. The Food and Beverage department of the hotel is operated by Remo & Priyanka, well known names in the decor and event planning business.
The company is investing in improvements on the Holiday Inn as well, with work slated to start after the holidays and be completed by the end of January.
“We are making a lot of changes. We are renovating the restaurant, bar, banquet and meeting space,” Sartaj Singh, president of Holiday Inn Plainview and Shudh Parkash’s son, said of the full-service hotel. “Our goal is to give the best amenities to guests out of any hotel on Long Island with the most competitive rates.”
They are also renovating rooms at the hotel on a four-acre property, visible from the Long Island Expressway.
“The rooms &and suites will be fitted with new amenities like 65” Smart TV’s, wine coolers, etc.,” Sartaj Singh added, “We’re renovating the Presidential and Bridal suites along with 4 Junior suites.”
He said they hired “The Management Empire” as the management company as required by IHG. In addition, they have a professional team of managers in place at the hotel consisting of General Manager, Director of Sales, Director of Catering, Directors for the front desk and housekeeping. A dedicated team of four engineers works around the clock to immediately fix any problems in the hotel and ensure the comfort of the guests.
The centrally located Holiday Inn is used by a large number of business travelers, as well as leisure travelers and family visitors this time of year.
“When it comes to holidays and Christmas time, families living nearby use the hotel a lot,” said Vice President Simren Kaur, a sister of Sartaj Singh. “Family members like parents, brothers and sisters stay here and party. They have relatives living nearby in Plainview, Hicksville, Bethpage and other communities. We are only five minutes away from the Plainview Gurdwara – Sikh Temple. People do wedding ceremonies in the temple and stay in our hotel due to the proximity.”
Shudh Parkash Singh said he first saw Holiday Inn Plainview many years ago, and was immediately impressed by it, including its location, even from a distance.
“As a new immigrant working 12 to 16 hours a day I’d go to city driving on the Long Island Expressway,” Shudh Parkash Singh said. ” Every time I passed by exit 46 I saw this sign and admired the location. I never thought I would own it one day. I thank God for His countless blessings.”
He added that hospitality is a key part of Indian culture, which made the hospitality industry a natural fit.
“Internationally, India is known for its hospitality,” Shudh Parkash Singh added. “We are a culturally hospitable community. This hospitality business naturally attracted us. You’ll see a lot of Indians all across America owning hotels. We love this business.”
The company also developed and owns what Shudh Prakash Singh says is the first ethnic South Asian shopping center in the country, the Kundan Mall in Hicksville.
“There was a need for that. There wasn’t any place where you could go and get everything,” Shudh Parkash Singh said. “Our vision was to have everything South Asian, Indian, Pakistani, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, in one place. It’s a South Asian shopping center.”
It is a South Asian Shopping Center visited by South Asians not just from within Long Island, but also from across Tri-State area.
“It has become a community hub. Back home countries are divided and hold some animosity with each other due to divisive political policies. It gives me a real pleasure that the Mall named after my Dad is bringing people closer hailing from the Indian subcontinent,” Shudh Prakash Singh said. “You see them wearing jeans, Burqas, Sarees and skirts while working, shopping, eating and laughing together under one roof. I feel it’s a tribute to my respected father who was a spiritual man and loved everyone regardless of race or religion.”
The area is home to a large and growing South Asian population, which has led to numerous stores catering to that community. Shudh Parkash Singh is the first Chairman of the first Indian American business council established by Nassau County.
“This area was developing and already there were a lot of individual Indians stores on Broadway with no parking,” Shudh Parkash Singh added. “Our vision was to create something where you find everything under one roof from groceries to jewelry to food, restaurants to clothing.”
The shopping center has five restaurants, clothing stores, salons, and the nation’s biggest Indian supermarket Apna Bazaar as its anchor tenant.
The hotel is already attracting events from Indian companies, such as Tata, an Indian jewelry store holding a trade show. For decades, this hotel has been popular for trade shows, meetings, and parties due to its centralized location.
They found out the property was available through a broker but had seen it many times before, in part thanks to its large sign visible from the Long Island Expressway.
They are planning a grand opening after the renovation is complete at the beginning of next year.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Town of Oyster Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Nassau Republican Chairman Joe Cairo are expected to attend the event, which also will include dozens of vendors such as DJs, decorators, photographers, event planners and caterers serving complimentary food to the invited guests.
“There’ll be wine tasting and live bands playing music to make the grand opening a joyful festive event,” Shudh Parkash Singh said. “I am excited the First Lady from India will most likely be joining us not just as dear friend of family, also to grace the occasion with her grand presence as our special Guest of Honor.”
Read more: PSEG Long Island and Schneps Media invite vote on ‘Small Business Stars’
