Despite experiencing a construction boom in its residential market, and somewhat in the retail market, Norman officials say the city still is lacking in the hospitality industry.

Don Wood, Norman Economic Development Coalition director, said the city needs more full-service hotels with meeting space.

"There's a definite place in Norman for a first-class hotel, somewhere along the lines of a Westin or a Renaissance, like in Oklahoma City," Wood said. "The closest thing to a full-service hotel is the Holiday Inn, and I don't know of any others in Norman."

Wood said he does not include southeast Norman's Marriott as much of an option because it has been in and out of the market for the past eight years, not to mention that the 1,000-room hotel's first priority is servicing those training at the U.S. Postal Training Center. Wood said 95 percent of the hotel's occupants are students.

"They've done a lot of community functions out there for luncheons and banquets with having a seating capacity for 600, but as far as trying to book a convention that would be here for an extended period of time - three or four days and needing facilities and rooms - that's always been a challenge (because of the training center)," he said.

Meanwhile, Wood said the remaining hotels in the Norman area cater to the business traveler with few having a restaurant, though there are some with nearby eating establishments. Furthermore, he said, business travelers and prospects visiting Norman tend to prefer staying at one of the larger Oklahoma City hotels loaded with amenities.

Sherry Rogers, executive director of the Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau, agrees, who said despite the 2,000 hotel rooms available in Norman, the problem remains there is not one offering full-service amenities.

"We're very limited in meeting space," she said. "We have concentrated a lot on the youth sports market because of our lack of meeting space. We have very nice sports facilities and that has been a major market for us."

For now, Rogers said she's looking forward to a 136-room Sooner Legends Inn & Suites opening in March and a 150-room Hilton Garden Inn, currently awaiting approval by the Norman Planning Commission, which may somewhat alleviate the lack of meeting space and in-hotel restaurants with full-service accommodations.

"The Hilton Gardens Inn has not been approved by the city...they've had to redesign the hotel to make it a three-story facility," Rogers said. "It's not a done deal; it's got to clear the last hurdle through the city."

The Hilton Garden Inn, if approved, would be constructed on the west side of Interstate 35, near Joe's Crab Shack.

Rogers said she also eagerly anticipates owners Doug, Sharlyn and Valerie Kennon opening their Sooner Legends Inn & Suites in March.

The Kennons purchased the former Ramada Inn at I-35 and Lindsey Avenue in December, 2004, and are spending approximately $5 million to renovate the facility to open as Sooner Legends Inn & Suites.

Owners said they operated Bob's Barbecue restaurant and Red Zone bar, but when the hotel closed two years ago, they took advantage of the opportunity to purchase it - five acres of land and all. The two-story, boutique-style hotel will house the Sooner Legends restaurant and sports bar, as well as meeting facilities accommodating between 15 and 300 people.

The hotel will project a sports theme with 120 rooms and 16 suites, some of which will be named after current Oklahoma coaches Bob Stoops and Kelvin Sampson as well as the legendary Barry Switzer along with former Sooners turned National Football League players Mark Clayton and Jammal Brown, just to name a few.

Even a David Boren room, named for the OU president and former U.S. Senator, and an OU Pride room, the nickname for the University's marching band, room will be on site. Additionally, there will also be an "Our Favorite Fan" room, along with rooms named after former Sooner gymnast and Olympic gold medal winner Bart Connor and former Sooner golfer Todd Hamilton who won his first British Open in 2004.

"When you first walk in, we'll have popcorn and homemade cookies and a big plasma television playing old ball games from the past," Kennon said. "Everything will be totally renovated…and we'll have a business center for those traveling."

Room rates will range from $89 to $139 and patrons will receive a homemade breakfast with every night's stay.

Kennon said they've already started booking events, starting with the Red Hatters Society which booked close to 100 rooms for the third weekend in March.

For more information, please contact Pamela Grady at pgrady@okcbusiness.com