The hotel that sits on land owned by the University of North Texas is no longer a Radisson.

DRC/Gary Payne

Raina Hackbart waits for guests to check in at the front desk of the former Radisson Hotel at 2211 Interstate 35E in Denton on Tuesday. Prism Hotels and Resorts has taken over management of the hotel.

Prism Hotels and Resorts, a Dallas-based hotel property management company, took over the hotel Tuesday.

UNT leaders ended the university’s lease agreement with Denton Hotel Associates, owner and operator of the Radisson Hotel, on Monday.

In an agreement with Denton Hotel Associates, UNT bought out the remaining 45 years of the lease for $4.56 million, said Buddy Price, news promotion manager for the university.

Deborah Leliaert, vice president of university relations, communications and marketing, said the university has not determined a specific period of time for the management contract with Prism.

UNT signed a three-month contract with Prism and will pay a management fee of $25,000 per month to operate the hotel. After three months, the agreement may be extended on a month-to-month basis.

Rhonda Dye, a regional director of operations for Prism, referred questions to Leliaert.

Leliaert said the university is concerned about the people who have already booked reservations for rooms or banquets and will ensure there are minimum disruptions with their service.

“UNT is working closely with event reservation holders to accommodate their needs utilizing the UNT catering staff to provide event services when necessary,” Leliaert said.

In a letter to Denia-area residents Monday, UNT President Gretchen Bataille alerted neighboring homeowners of the terminated lease agreement.

“Long term, having a full-service, quality hotel in proximity to UNT is important to a vibrant campus life, especially when it comes to athletic, academic and cultural events; graduations; and the employment of our students,” Bataille said in the letter.

For now, UNT plans to use reserve funds to pay for the buyout, Leliaert said.

“What long-term funding UNT uses will be determined by what decision UNT makes about the hotel property,” she said.

Seven of the nine members of the UNT Board of Regents voted in favor of the lease termination during a specially called teleconference meeting Thursday.

UNT owns the land the hotel sits on, and Denton Hotel Asso­ciates had been leasing the hotel since 1997.

The hotel had been for sale since 2007.

Frederick Pole, retired vice chancellor of administration for the UNT System, helped negotiate the building of the hotel in 1986.

“I’m disappointed that the hotel and the university association is coming to an end,” Pole said.

He said the hotel served the university well, but that the Radisson faced several challenges in keeping up with hotels that are part of larger chains and offer different amenities, such as complimentary breakfasts.

Pole said that the Radisson, originally built as a Sheraton, offered a wonderful period of opportunity for the university, and he is hopeful that whatever replaces the hotel also will serve UNT well.

RANDENA HULSTRAND can be reached at 940-566-6845. Her e-mail address is
rhulstrand@dentonrc.com .