COEUR d'ALENE - The AmeriTel Inn-Coeur d'Alene is changing its name to La Quinta Inns and Suites.

The property owner, AmeriTel Inns, a family-owned business based in Boise, has decided to change the name to make the hotel more competitive with the name recognition of a major franchise.

"We anticipate being able to keep the AmeriTel guests and add to that people who are familiar with La Quinta," said Chuck Everett, vice president of operations for AmeriTel. "It's a very competitive lodging industry."

He said the property, located at 333 W. Ironwood Drive, is scheduled to be fully converted by June 1. It's located just south of Interstate 90 on the east side of U.S. 95.

Among the dozen properties AmeriTel owns is the Hampton Inn and Suites Coeur d'Alene at 1500 Riverstone Drive. The company doesn't own the La Quinta Inn and Suites at 2209 E. Sherman Ave. in Coeur d'Alene.

Everett said a name change has increased business at other properties in the company's portfolio.

Everett said the Ironwood hotel is 17 years old and the company will reinvest in the property. It has 118 rooms and suites, and 1,775 square feet of conference space.

The property updates will include new furniture, carpet, wallpaper and 42-inch flatscreen TVs in the rooms. Public areas will get new tile and wall coverings, and all the equipment in the fitness room will be updated. Outside, the hotel will get new landscaping and improvements to the parking lot.

"It's going to look like a fresh new hotel," Everett said.

He said they also have applied for a beer and wine license.

The hotel typically employs 20 to 25 people, but that staff could increase by 10 or more if business increases as planned, he said.