IHG Army Hotels

Guest amenities at IHG Army Hotels on Fort Gordon
IHG Army Hotels
On-post lodgings and branded hotels for U.S. Army
Industry Hotel
Founded 2006 (contract awarded); 2009 (operations began)
Founder InterContinental Hotels Group and Lend Lease Group partnership
Headquarters U.S.
Number of locations
 41
Area served
 U.S., including Puerto Rico
Parent InterContinental Hotels Group
Website www.ihgarmyhotels.com

IHG Army Hotels is a collection of private-sector hotels located on Army installations and Joint Bases throughout the U.S. It is the result of a partnership between InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and Lend Lease Group (US) Public Partnerships. This partnership was formed in response to the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program by the United States Army. The Army’s request for qualifications (RFQ) sought to fulfill specific requirements that included improving the quality of on-post lodgings throughout the U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. This RFQ sought entities with experience in the management of room inventory and hotel service, expertise in construction, and financing experience relating to the upgrades and renovations of existing on-post Army lodgings.[1] U.S. Army awarded the PAL program to Lend Lease (US) with a 50-year lease deal, and IHG, with a 25-year management agreement with options to extend.[2] As part of the RFP agreement, these hotels provide lodging to service members of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, government and civilian contractors, military families, veterans, civilians and retirees. There are 76 IHG-branded hotels with about 11,600 rooms located on Army bases in the U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.[3]

History

After being awarded the PAL program in 2006, IHG Army Hotels began the first phase of the PAL takeover in 2009 with hotels on 10 posts. During this time, on-post lodgings underwent upgrades, renovations, and or new builds. IHG Army Hotels transformed these lodgings to meet basic standards for guests that included improved amenities, such as complimentary breakfast and wireless Internet.[4] Additional amenities at IHG Army Hotels were designed to cater to military travelers that include weekly barbecues, complimentary on-post shuttle services, and free laundry facilities.[5] In 2010, the first on-post Holiday Inn Express opened on Fort Polk, Louisiana.[6] In 2011, 11 additional posts were added under IHG Army Hotels purview as part of the PAL program;[7] with the addition of 18 posts in 2013.[8] As of 2014, IHG Army Hotels operate upgraded and renovated military lodgings, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, and Candlewood Suites on 41 Army posts.

In the community

IHG Army Hotels is involved with the Fisher House Foundation[9] and Building for America's Bravest, a program of the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.[10] Since 2010, almost $500,000 has been raised to support local Fisher House Foundation projects nearby IHG Army Hotels.[11] In 2011, IHG Army Hotels proposed an initiative to train and hire wounded warriors, working with the Army and off post organizations via the IHG Academy. These initiatives, approved by the Pentagon and IHG trains former military soldiers for skills needed for success in the hospitality industry.

Notable properties

Entrance of IHG Army Hotels on Fort Gordon
Entrance to IHG Army Hotel on Fort Gordon
Lobby of IHG Army Hotels on Fort Gordon
Check-In at IHG Army Hotel on Fort Gordon
Guest room at IHG Army Hotel on Fort Gordon
Guest room at IHG Army Hotel on Fort Gordon

References

  1. ↑ "Privatized Army Lodging". U.S. Army. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "IHG Upgrading Army Hotels Through PAL Program". Lodging Magazine. August 16, 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Kalinoski, Gail (May 3, 2013). "Lend Lease, InterContinental Obtain $465M to Build Private Hotels on Army Bases". Commercial Property Executive. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Trejos, Nancy (May 1, 2013). "Army recruits private companies to run its hotels". USA Today. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  5. ↑ Shevory, Kristina (June 12, 2012). "The Army Calls In the Hoteliers". N.Y. Times. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "Fort Polk Opens Army's First Branded Holiday Inn Express". U.S. Army. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Shevory, Kristina (June 12, 2012). "The Army Calls In the Hoteliers". N.Y. Times. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "IHG Army Hotels Portfolio to Reach 39 U.S. Military Installations". Hotel Business. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "IHG Army and Hotels and Ft McCoy Donate $4K to Fisher House". Fisher House Wisconsin. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "IHG Tunnel to Towers Donation Presentation". USAG Fort Hamilton. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "IHG Army Hotels Portfolio to Reach 39 U.S. Military Installations". Top Hotel Projects. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "IHG Upgrading Army Hotels Through PAL Program". Lodging Magazine. August 16, 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
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