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Hotel rooms offered to hospitalized families on Christmas Eve

AVON, Ind. (WISH) – Nothing says the holidays like being around family and loved ones. But sometimes circumstances might force people to spend that quality time away from their homes and instead in a hospital.

It’s why MHG Hotels, which owns ten hotels in central Indiana, decided this year to give the gift of comfort on Christmas Eve. It’s offering 150 room nights for free to people whose loved ones are staying in a hospital for the holiday.

Opening their doors to people in need, and not just customers, is the business model.

The hotel general manager David Vint,  of the Fairfield Inn in Avon, was excited to open his rooms to families looking for some relief.

“This would be a place that they could relax and maybe get a breather and who knows how stressful the situation is,” he said. When it comes to staying overnight at a hospital, Vint said, “It’s not always the most fun thing, certainly not on a holiday when it’s supposed to be one of the more joyous of the year.”

Fourteen hospitals in or near Indianapolis were given vouchers people could use for a one night stay. Six IU Health locations, Franciscan St. Francis Health – Indianapolis and the Roudebush VA Medical Center were some of the participants.

At the Comfort Suites on Indy’s south side, at least five guests took advantage of the opportunity.

They’ll get a bed, a bathroom and space to clear their minds. They’ll also get free breakfast on Christmas morning.

Vint hopes it not only gives them Christmas spirit, but relief that they might not find under the tree.

“The owner of MHG, Sanjay Patel, is someone that cares a lot about the community,” said Vint. “The way he says it, you’re going to sleep better every night knowing that you made someone’s life better. Whether it’s a guest or whether it’s somebody at the hospital who may be stuck.”

Vint said MHG’s owner got the idea to give away rooms after another general manager had to spend Christmas Eve night in the hospital a couple years ago.

He said when the idea was brought to the hospitals in the area, they were excited to participate.