Computer tech finds new niche in hotel business

Thibodaux native Jeremiah Marcel jumped head first into the business industry a year ago when he bought into the mainstream hotel brand Days Inn & Suites.

The 34-year-old officially opened the doors to his Days Inn & Suites Bayou Land on July 3. The 26,000-square-foot hotel is located on Glenwild Drive, right off North Canal Boulevard.

“We are happy to be in Thibodaux and serving the community,” he said.

From the start, Marcel moved pretty quickly on the hotel deal.

Once he completed the Days Inns’ training process and his permits were approved, it took contractors 10 months to build the standard model facility.

From this point, Marcel’s expectation is pretty basic – he’s poised for success.

Although he’s fairly new to business ownership, Marcel has been around entrepreneurs all his life. His mother (Gwen Wong) and father (Jack Paul Marcel) owned Gwen Wong Chinese Restaurant in Thibodaux from 1980 to 1996.

Marcel graduated from E.D. White Catholic High School in 1991 and began at Nicholls State University where he majored in business administration and minored in computer science. Two-and-a-half years in, he took a break from school and entered the job market.

Over the next two years, Marcel owned two small consulting businesses, which he ran from home. Primarily, Marcel worked as an information computer technician.

He earned his certification as an Information Computer Technician from New Horizon Computer Learning Center in Baton Rouge while working at Cameco Industries in Thibodaux, now known as John Deere.

“This is an entirely new experience for me,” Marcel said of the 57-suite hotel venture. “I knew the job would be overwhelming because there was a lot to learn, but I did not know that I had to learn so much. But I am getting the hang of it every day.”

Ironically, Marcel was content working as a computer tech and office manager for an engineering firm in the area. He wasn’t looking to go into business independently. The opportunity just sort of happened.

His odyssey began about 14 months ago. It was his mother’s suggestion.

While Gwen Wong and a Realtor were touring properties for sale in Houma, the agent spoke of the lack of hotels in the Houma-Thibodaux region. In the days following the 2005 hurricane season, demand for accommodations was great as recovery workers flooded the area.

“We talked about it and it really sparked my interest. I did my research and decided that it would be a good business venture,” Marcel said. “The initial location for the hotel was in Houma because the city is growing so rapidly. However, when the property in Thibodaux became available, I took advantage of the deal.”

Including the buy-in costs, permit fees and construction, Marcel has invested several millions in the new venture.

Although the hotel has only been serving guests for a few months, Marcel is encouraged by the progress. It’s taken a lot of hard work and long hours, but he said about 25-30 suites have been filled on a weekly basis since the facility opened in July.

“Everyone is still getting used to us being here,” he said. “We haven’t sold out the hotel just yet, but we haven’t reached the holiday season either.”

“We’ll just have to see what happens in November and December,” he added.

This is third major hotel in Thibodaux, but the only Days Inn in the Houma-Thibodaux area. It has two floors and 57 suites, a saltwater outdoor pool, fitness center, business center and a free continental breakfast area.

Marcel said it is more modernized than other Days Inn prototypes offered statewide.

He picked this particular hotel prototype because it accommodates families as well as business travelers. Visitors can choose between two double-, queen- or king-sized bedded rooms. Each suite is equipped with a wet bar and a refrigerator.

“Visitors can stay in the standard rooms for cheaper price,” he said. “Or they can pay a little more and lavish in one of our suites or Jacuzzi suites.”

Marcel said his Days Inn remains competitive by offering extra off-sight features such as shuttles to the New Orleans airport, car rental assistance and travel agent services. In-house perks include a laundry care facility, secretarial services and an on-call massage therapist.

“Granted, there are other hotels that do offer some of the same things that we do, but we take it one step further to accommodate guests and to ensure their safety,” Marcel said. “We are in the interior of the corridor. It’s more secure here and we are right in the growing part of the city.”

Thibodaux native Jeramiah Marcel opened Thibodaux’s newest hotel, the Days Inn & Suites Bayou Land, to meet the region’s growing demand. The 57-suite, two-story facility has a saltwater outdoor pool, fitness and business centers and offers guests a variety of special amenities. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN