A Ramada Conference Center could open in three months at the site of the closed Skytop Center, a developer confirmed on Wednesday.

Renovations are under way at the old hotel property, 20 U.S. 411 East, said John Patel of Kennesaw-based JDH Developers.

Patel is a veteran hotel developer in Northwest Georgia. This will be his seventh property in Rome. His company built the Best Western Executive Inn, 217 U.S. 411 East; Country Inn and Suites, 15 Hobson Way; LaQuinta Inn & Suites, 15 Chateau Drive; Comfort Suites, 23 Chateau Drive; Ashwood Inn & Suites, 2761 Shorter Ave.; and Woodberry Inn & Suites, 1318 Martha Berry Blvd.

Patel has received a permit from the Rome-Floyd Building Inspection office for the renovation, which has been valued at $700,000. James Martin in the inspection office said most of the physical work involves wallboard replacement in a number of the rooms.

Patel said he is in the process of cleaning out and renovating 109 rooms of the former Skytop Center property. He intends to open a restaurant, bar and banquet rooms.

Lisa Smith, executive director of the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau, said she is extremely excited about the news.

“That’s awesome,” Smith said. “The loss of those rooms was significant, along with the loss of that meeting space. Rome can handle more than one meeting at a time.”

The 109 rooms Patel will open are all located in the main building of the property. He said another 80 rooms on the back could be used for extended-stay clients.

“But nothing else right now,” he said. “We’ll see how the front goes. “If there is more demand then we might convert those back to rooms again.”

Smith said Patel’s decision to re-open the hotel reinforces Rome’s role as a hub for meetings, conventions and special events.

“We are very competitive — and usually in bidding situations (we) are much more competitive with room rates, rental space, food service, beverage service than some of the larger towns,” Smith said. “This will help us bring new dollars into the community to help build the local economy.”

Plans for the property include re-opening the indoor-outdoor pool, an exercise room, business center and a game room.

“The main thing is a full-service hotel that Rome doesn’t have, with a restaurant and bar,” Patel said.

The developer said he would have a full hot continental breakfast with a chef available to cook omelets to order for his customers.

Patel also said he would partner with Marie Bishop-Brinson, owner of La Marie’s at Magretta Hall and the Catering Co. at The Palladium, to run his restaurant and bar facility. The Rome News-Tribune was not able to contact Bishop-Brinson for comment Wednesday.