Renovations are currently underway to breathe new life into a Leamington staple.

A major upgrade is coming to the Pelee Motor Inn. Crews are hard at work, turning the nearly 40-year-old building into a Best Western Plus.

“We really saw it as a diamond in the rough,” says Shaun Gupta, spokesperson for Sunray Group. “It needed some tlc and we thought with our experience and back ground we could add that in and turn this place around.”

In total, Gupta says Sunray is investing $4-million to bring back new and old customers back to the hotel.

“We've kept a foot print of the old hotel and gutted everything, carpeting, all brand new walls,bathoroms, new beds, bedding, towels,” says general manager, Carolyn Tann-Jacobs. “There is nothing that hasn't been changed.

However, the pool and waterslide will remain as is. In the courtyard, the old pool has been filled-in and replaced with an indoor play gym. Tann-Jacobs says it's a totally different feeling inside.

“(It’s) nice to finally have someone who sees possibilities and willing to put capital investment in for us.”

Gupta says despite recent closures in Leamington, including at the Heinz plant, the area can still support the hotel.

“We’ve been hearing that in community lot of positive feedback. There is buzz here and we're excited to see the outcome when we are all done.”

Construction is expected to wrap sometime in December and could create another 15 to 30 jobs.