What’s Up with Lewisburg Hotels?

Recently we received information from an upset Pocahontas County resident who had decided to visit Lewisburg with his wife and enjoy an evening of entertainment. Knowing they were planning to spend the night there rather then drive home late, he had booked and paid for a room at the Super 8 Motel located at 160 Village Drive, Lewisburg using a third party on-line booking service. However, when they went to check in, the front desk agent looked at his license and told him that the Super 8 has a policy against renting to people from the “local area” which included Greenbrier, Monroe and Pocahontas Counties. He said the clerk told him the reason was because a lot of local people used, sold or manufactured drugs in the rooms. He was also told that this policy was the same in all the other motels or hotels in the area. The couple then went to the holiday Inn Express next to the Walmart. They also were concerned that he might be considered a local, which would make him ineligible to rent a room there too, but when they say he was from Marlinton, they told him their policy only prohibited people in the “Southern part” of Pocahontas county, so the couple were allowed to check in at the Holiday Inn Express.

Based on this, we decided to investigate the Lewisburg hotels and motels to see what their policies are regarding renting to locals and especially with regard to residents of Pocahontas County. We did this to provide you with information so that if you are planning a mini-vacation to enjoy the Lewisburg night life you don’t get caught by surprise without a place to stay at the end of an otherwise enjoyable evening.

We started by talking with Jodi Mayberry, the Super 8’s General Manager and Samantha Sheldon, their Regional Manager. They said they do have a very strict policy against renting rooms to anyone from any adjacent county, which of course includes all of Pocahontas County. They cited unspecified problems local renters cause and all the area hotels and motels maintain this same policy. They said that this policy applies to all Super 8 motels nationwide, but then told me that the City of Lewisburg was encouraging all area hotels to follow this policy.

Scott Taylor, the General Manager at the Lewisburg Holiday Inn Express said they have a strict policy against renting to local residents, but assured me that people living in Pocahontas County are not considered to be local, and therefore are not prohibited from renting rooms there.

Susan McCormack, the General Manager of the Fairfield Inn and Suites, 273 Coleman Drive, Lewisburg, said they do have a policy regarding renting to locals living within 80 miles of the hotel- which would include much of Pocahontas County. However, she said the policy would not apply to anyone paying with a valid and verified credit card. A local person wanting to pay cash without putting a credit card on file would have to put up an extra $250.00 as a deposit which would be refunded at check out if a room inspection shows no problems or damage.

Heather Muday, the General Manager of the Hampton inn, 30 Coleman Drive in Lewisburg, said they do rent to locals as long as they are using a valid and verified credit card. She said people paying with cash may be required to put up a refundable $250.00 deposit depending on whether their demeaner raises suspicion to the desk clerk no matter where they live. She said someone paying with cash who is willing to put a verified credit card on file would be exempt the deposit requirement.

Matthew Ridgeway, the General Manager at the Quality Inn, 178 Coleman Drive in Lewisburg, said that by law he cannot turn any potential hotel guest away based only on where they live. They also will accept cash payments with a valid credit card placed on file. He said the Desk Clerk can make a judgement call to not rent a room to someone who appears suspicious, no matter where they live. He did say that local police have asked him not to rent to locals, but he cannot agree to that.

Jay Patel, the Manager of the Relax Inn, 635 North Jefferson Street in Lewisburg, said he has no policy against renting to locals, and accepts cash.

So, there you have it, and can plan your stay in Lewisburg accordingly.