The Cedar Park and West Austin chambers of commerce honored the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Austin NW/Four Points, 8300 N. RR 620, Bldg. 1, Austin, in the Trails at 620 shopping center with a ribbon cutting Thursday. The Four Points hotel is owned by Anisa and Riyaz Bhaiwala, who also own the Holiday Inn Express at 1605 Whitestone Blvd. in Cedar Park.

The festivities featured a buffet with food from local restaurants including Flores Mexican Restaurant, Napa Flats Wood-Fired Kitchen, Oasthouse Kitchen+Bar and Redfin Seafood Kitchen—all located in the Trails at 620.

"Every time we had family and friends over, they had to go way up [Hwy.] 183," said West Austin Chamber Ambassador Don Dickson of the prior lack of lodging in the area. "So you guys [at Holiday Inn Express] are a Godsend."

A nature preserve abuts the hotel that opened June 1 with 82 rooms, a swimming pool, a fitness center, free parking and daily breakfast.