Maru Realty

Grand Opening Of Comfort Inn & Suites Inn Cedar City
By Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. and Mayor Gerald Sherratt
June 7, 2008

CEDAR CITY - Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Mayor Gerald R. Sherratt shared the responsibility of cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of the Comfort Inn and Suites Friday, welcoming the new business to Cedar City. Ed Patel and Brett Maru holding the ribbon while Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Mayor Gerald R. Sherratt cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of Comfort Inn & suites. Brett Maru, managing member and co-owner of the hotel, said it was a "privilege and an honor" to have Huntsman take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

During his speech to Cedar City residents and hotel employees, Huntsman said he's glad the owners of the hotel, who also own 37 other hotels throughout Utah, decided to open the Comfort Inn and Suites in Cedar City. Governor recognized Dasharath Patel, Ed Patel’s uncle who was the first Indian who came to Utah in 1977 for business. For years, Dasharath Patel provided valuable guidance to Ed in the hotel / motel business Huntsman said the new hotel would benefit the Cedar City tourism industry, especially through the
summer festival season. During his speech, Mayor Sherratt said the new addition to the hotel industry is another representation of growth in Cedar City.

"Everyone knows tourism is a vital part of the economy in Cedar City," he said. "We hope our tourism continues to grow so that we can keep all of our motels full all of the time."
Huntsman said the continuing business growth, like the new hotel, is a good example of Utah's strong economy.

"The state of Utah is doing pretty well economically," he said. "We may have a storm around us but we are doing reasonably well."

The additions of new business will contribute to growth as well as an increase in the tourism industry throughout Utah, Huntsman said. "Growth is going to be a constant part of our existence," he said. Gov. asked Ketan Sharma, owner of multiple hotels and restaurants to open Indian restaurants in Utah.

Governor and Ketan Sharma Ed Patel is the primary owner of the Comfort Inn and Suite, and is considered the "mastermind" behind the group's success within the hotel industry in Utah, Maru said. Ed Patel, owns more than 30 hotels in the state of Utah, and a couple more in Arizona, Colorado, California and Kansas. Ed is currently building a 126 room La Quinta Inn & Suites in Chino, California and similar to this hotel in Vernal, Utah.

The hotel offers spacious and elegant lobby area with fireplace, massage therapy, business center, hardwired & wireless free high‐speed Internet access; free in‐room Comfort Sunshine® Roast coffee, USA Today or The Wall Street Journal, Indoor Pool and Spa, Guest Laundry. The owners offered a small token of appreciation a sculpture of Saraswati. Saraswati is the Hindu Goddess of knowledge, music, and all of the creative arts. “Saraswati which brings peace, prosperity and harmony” said Mr. Maru.

Comfort Inn & Suites Cedar City is part of the Choice Hotels. Choice Hotels International franchises more than 5,500 hotels, representing more than 450,000 rooms, in the United States and 37 countries and territories. As of September 30, 2007, 872 hotels are under development in the United States, representing 68,853 rooms, and an additional 82 hotels, representing 7,970 rooms, are under development in more than
20 countries and territories. The company’s Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands serve guests worldwide.