NATCHEZ — With a view of the Mississippi River that draws eyes from all over, it was fairly easy for the Hotel Vue’s owners to choose a theme for the hotel’s multimillion-dollar renovation.

Local investors Vidal Davis, Jimmy Smith and Conner House purchased the hotel and a portion of the adjacent riverfront property originally planned as Grand Soleil Casino Oct. 1, 2014.

For nearly a year, planning and renovation work has been ongoing at the property that for years was operated as the Ramada Inn Hilltop.

“When we bought the hotel, since it was originally built with a casino in mind, the space wasn’t really to our taste,” Davis said.

Davis said the consensus was that the hotel’s atmosphere should focus on the river.

“The Mississippi River is pretty stunning,” Davis said. “That’s what the Vue is and what it’s known for. We want to capitalize on that at every angle, with the restaurant, the amenities, meeting space, as much as we can.”

The hotel, which has 35 employees, has 91 rooms that include king and queen rooms and suites, a king Whirlpool room and the Captain’s Suite. The hotel also has meeting and banquet space as well as a restaurant, bar and pool.

Many aspects of the hotel, including the lobby, front desk, meeting space, element of guest rooms and fitness center have been either completed renovated or updated.

The work has included new furniture, paint, wallpaper, decorative elements, flooring and other work, all geared toward showcasing the Mississippi River.

Historic photographs of Natchez and the river have been blown up, stylized and transferred to canvases that hang throughout the hotel.

“We wanted to make sure the river was the focal point of all of our space,” Davis said.

But not all of the space was needed.

One of the outside buildings of the hotel was demolished, Davis said, because it was not needed.

The on-site restaurant — to be name the Pilot House — is currently being renovated and will feature an updated dining and bar area. The hotel’s new chef, Shreveport, La., native Cody Wallace, said the restaurant’s new menu will showcase creative Southern food with a French inspiration.

In addition to brick and mortar work, which is scheduled to be completed Oct. 15, Davis said the hotel has worked hard on rebranding efforts, including a new logo and website.

Reviews of the hotel prior to Davis, Smith and House purchasing it were not exactly great, Davis said.

“It’s often hard to take a hotel that has had a bad time of it and turn it around rather than it is to take a newly constructed hotel and build a reputation,” Davis said.  “And (the hotel) had really bad reviews, especially the last couple of years, before we took it over.”

That is not the case anymore, Davis said.

“The reviews have been completely turned around,” he said.

Hotel Vue Director of Sales Andrea Cater said feedback on the renovation work and guest stays at the hotel have been great.

“And I really think the employees are excited about everything that’s been going on,” she said. “I know I am.”

The hotel is managed by MMI Hotel Group based in Flowood. MMI Director of Revenue Performance Lindsay Hamm said the company has also received positive feedback from locals.

“We’ve just received nothing but compliments,” Hamm said. “It’s really nice to hear that from people in town.”

Davis said making the hotel great as it once was has been the main goal in purchasing and renovating the hotel.

“The fact that it is locally owned and operated, I think want to support it,” Davis said. “Before it was a casino hotel, it was the place to go, the place to meet and the place to eat, and that’s the way it was for 20 years.

That’s what we’re building now, something we’re proud of and something I think the town will be proud of.”