By Rachel Levy, Reporter

Rooms in the University Inn are barren following the relocation of hundreds of residential students to local hotels. (Photo by Ghadah Alotaibi)

Shenandoah University students settling into Winchester hotels after moving out of University Inn are in rooms grouped together for comfort, hoteliers say.

The six hotels have given the University special rates to accommodate the 200 students displaced while the campus dormitory is cleaned because of what the University calls moisture issues. Hotel officials declined to disclose the rates they are charging students. University officials have said students are expected to stay in the hotels through the end of this semester.

At the Hampton Inn, directly across from campus, 20 students are accommodated. Additionally, the Fairfield Inn has 28 students.

The Holiday Inn on Front Royal Pike is housing 100 students in 50 rooms. Holiday Inn General Manager Shirley Charlebois said the students would be a “good fit for the hotel.”  

Some 26 students have been moved into the Hilton Garden Inn on Wingate Drive. Director of Sales Justin Baker said he is, “Excited to have everybody and have new friends for the next 90 days.” Baker explained that now that the summer season is ending, it will be a slow season for the hotel, so having students won’t displace any other hotel guests.

University Inn students also are being housed in the Best Western directly across from campus, and eight students have been moved into the Aloft Hotel on Millwood Pike. Both hotels have been rooming students since the beginning of the school year because of a shortage of student housing and a large freshman enrollment.

Best Western General Manager Amy Guzman said they’re, “Really happy to have this partnership with the school.”  She said it is “a positive impact both ways for the community.”  

Both Aloft and Best Western have grouped all the students together so they won’t need to be near others staying at the hotels.