ROCKINGHAM — Several last-minute touches were being made on the property Thursday as the Hampton Inn & Suites opened its doors for guests.
Richmond County’s latest lodging locale boasts 87 high-ceiling rooms — including 26 suites — across four floors.
“I wanted to make sure that the customer feels very comfortable,” Vimal Kolappa said of the spacious rooms. “That is why we put in a lot more money to make the ceilings higher and also the rooms …(and) bathrooms much more wider.
“I want the customer to feel that when he comes into the room, he’s not claustrophobic.”
A first-floor room at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Rockingham.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
There is also no carpet in the hotel so guests don’t have to worry about the rooms not being clean, Kolappa said.
The fully enclosed hotel also features: a large breakfast area with seating in the lobby and several tables tucked away in a nook near the hallway; an indoor pool; a fitness room; and a conference room with a whiteboard wall and seating capacity of 63.
According to a 2024 article in Business North Carolina, Kolappa emigrated to the U.S. in the ‘70s and worked in the telecom industry before getting into the hotel business. He co-owns East Coast Hospitality with his wife, Kalavath.
Breakfast room at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Rockingham.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
Kolappa serves on the UNC Board of Trustees and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, chaired by Rockingham’s Gene McLaurin.
Construction at the site — on U.S. 74 Business just east of Walmart and behind Hwy 55 — began in 2018.
Kolappa said the COVID pandemic played a role in how long it took to build the hotel.
“We couldn’t get people to work,” Kolappa said. “Then once that was all finished …we got the right crews here … Fortunately now we are open, that’s all that matters.”
Kolappa said he was impressed with the county and city with their help in getting the hotel open.
“The inspection department … very, very thorough, but always helpful for business,” Kolappa said. “When they found things that were not right, they told us, ‘Hey, this needs to be fixed,’ and we always did that."
Kolappa has been in the business for three decades and owns 11 hotels in North Carolina — with additional locations in Florida, Ohio and Virginia — and is in the process of building two more, but praised the city and county inspectors.
“They made this building very safe … and we also worked with them. That is how the inspector should be,” Kolappa said. “I can not sing the praises of them enough because I have dealth with a lot of inspection departments, but these guys were the best.
“They never compromised on anything, but they were always helpful.”
“We are thrilled to welcome the brand-new Hampton Inn to Rockingham,” said Meghann Lambeth, director of the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority.
“This beautiful addition not only provides visitors with a comfortable and convenient place to stay, but also strengthens Richmond County’s ability to host major events, attract overnight guests, and showcase everything our community has to offer,” Lambeth added. “It’s an exciting milestone for tourism and economic growth here in the heart of the Sandhills.”
