Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Why does the sign in front of Decorah's Heartland Inn now say 'Quality Inn'?"

Greg sent an e-mail to Mr. Answer Person, asking Mr. A.P. to find out the story about the new sign in front of the Heartland Inn of Decorah.

Mr. Answer Person says: "There's a simple explanation of why the sign in front of the Heartland Inn now says "Quality Inn"—because the motel is changing to a Quality Inn affiliation.  The new sign is just the most visible change at the motel, which was sold by Heartland Midwest Management in December of 2009 to Atul & Reena Patel of Cedar Falls.  The new owners embarked on a total renovation of the 58 rooms in the motel.  The rooms now have new beds and mattresses, new furniture and new flat screen TVs.

However, there are still a number of holdovers from the popular Heartland Inn operation—most importantly, the staff and local management.  The Wednesday night guest reception remains, as do the warm cookies and the free popcorn.

Right now the telephone at the motel is being asked "The soon-to-be Quality Inn."  The changeover could become official "any day now," as soon as the Quality Inn chain issues its certification that the motel now meets its standards.