Tops on the list for the most violations in Montgomery County is the Liberty Motel, 4101 Keats Drive, right along Interstate 75 in Harrison Township. An inspection there last December turned up dirty conditions and an estimated 30 cats in a room. A report from the State Fire Marshal said the carpet was "soaked in urine and feces." Since then, the hotel has been re-inspected and many of the other problems like moldy walls, faulty wiring and stained bedding have been fixed. Harrison Township Fire Chief Mark Lynch said his department inspects the hotels and motels in the township with an eye towards safety for the consumer.
"Every six months we go down to the hotels and inspect them. It is getting somewhat better, although we still have some violations," Lynch said. The township is home to not only the Liberty Motel, but also three other locations on the top five list.
Coming in at number two, the North Plaza Inn at 3636 Dixie Drive, which closed after a rash of problems with drugs and prostitution.
Number five on the list is the Ramada Inn Dayton North at 2301 Wagner Ford Road. The Ramada is where Rosemary and Kenneth Hatfield booked their wedding night stay this past December 31, unaware of the problems there. Rosemary had even gone to the hotel and looked at a room before handing over her money to reserve it. But when their big day arrived, Rosemary and her new husband were given a different room and they were shocked at what they found.
"There were no towels, no sheets, no nothing." Rosemary said. Moments later they discovered stained bedding, dirty conditions and dried vomit on the base of a lamp. Rosemary even took pictures to document the condition of the room.
"I had the proof that the room was disgusting," Rosemary said.
After they complained repeatedly to the management, only a portion of their money was returned. Since the Hatfield's uncomfortable stay at the Ramada, the hotel has changed owners. A new company took over in March and the new owner says major changes are in the works to fix the problems there.
Two other locations round out the top five for most inspection violations. The 35 West Motel at 7040 West Third Street came in third and the Microtel Inn & Suites at 4500 Linden Avenue came in fourth.
Hotel industry experts said there is a lot consumers can do in advance to make sure the hotel they pick is a good one. Mike Hyslope, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express and Suites/ Dayton South in Washington Township, highly recommends people use the web site Tripadvisor.com. The site not only has accurate information on hotel properties, but also has reviews from real customers.
"It's real guests that have actually stayed in the hotel leaving responses on what they think about their stay at the hotel," Hyslope said.
Ron Monte, Adjunct Professor of Hospitality Management at Sinclair Community College, said after the on-line review of a hotel is just the beginning. He recommends booking the hotel through the property directly, not through a third party.
Upon arrival, Monte inspects the parking lot to make sure the property is clean and well maintained. He runs through a series of questions to determine if the hotel is well suited for his tastes and budget. "Is it landscaped? Is the parking lot nice? Is it sealed and striped? Is it crisp looking? Is the building well lit?" Monte said the answers to all of those questions can be helpful. Once inside the hotel, Monte said the staff should look professional and be attentive. The lobby should be bright and clean. He said gathering information in advance can save consumers from many headaches later.
"Decide what is important to you and then do your research," Monte said.
I-Team reporter Ken McCall contributed to this story.
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