BELFAST – The Comfort Inn is participating in a program that will provide free rooms to families with children or relatives in the hospital over the holidays.

Lafayette Hotels, owner of 23 hotels in Maine, New Hampshire and Michigan, is offering free rooms to families with loved ones in the hospital. The program, called Home for the Holidays, is offered over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Visitors first are screened by the hospital, which refers them to the hotel. The program is also available to families facing an emergency or extreme hardship such as a death in the family or a home destroyed by fire.

Again this year, Home for the Holidays includes military personnel who are serving in Iraq and their families.

“Being with family and friends is important, especially during the holidays,” said Barry Asalone, Comfort Inn general manager. “Our Home for the Holidays program ensures that the cost of a hotel room doesn’t stand in the way of visiting a friend or relative in the hospital during this special time of year.”

Lafayette Hotels properties sponsoring the program are the Comfort Inn Ocean’s Edge in Belfast, the Best Western Black Bear Inn in Orono, the Best Inn and the Best Western White House Inn in Bangor, the Best Western Senator Inn and Spa in Augusta, and the Best Western Waterville Inn in Waterville.

Families may make reservations for Home for the Holidays by contacting their hospital or calling the hotel directly.