Holiday Inn has checked out of Springfield. 

Earlier this fall, the Route 22 hotel, built in 1980, quietly disassociated itself from the national chain and rechristened itself Hotel 304 West.

General Manager Dan Spricigo, who has worked for the hotel since its opening, said that other than the name change and some coming improvements, not much will be different about the hotel.

The hotel's owners, the Hollihil Corporation, still own it. Spricigo and the other hotel employees are still on the clock. The hotel's restaurant, the Happy Sombrero is staying open. They will continue to host events like weddings, business meetings and this year's comic book convention

The only changes are upgrades.

"We're about to embark on a renovation that will change about 40 rooms into suites," Spricigo said, adding that the hotel would be adding 32-inch flat screen television sets to its rooms.

Spricigo said the renovations are scheduled for next year, and are motivated by a need to keep current.

"You have to renovate at least every five or seven years," Spricigo said.

Individual Holiday Inn hotels are owned by franchisees, with the Holiday Inn Corporation providing their nationally recognized name, a check-in system and their signature towels.

He declined to get into details about why the Hollihil Corporation was splitting with the national chain other than to say the hotel owners thought the time was right for the separation. Spricigo was upbeat about the change.

"We're very enthusiastic," Spricigo said. "We want people to come by and see us and take advantage of the hotel."