Home » HOTEL NEWS » InterContinental Hotels Group Army Hotels Triumphs With 15 Years Of Legendary Service And Sustainable Growth
Sunday, August 25, 2024
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InterContinental Hotels Group Army Hotels celebrates 15 years of exceptional service, blending historic charm with modern upgrades across military posts.
Almost twenty years ago, the U.S. Army initiated the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program, aimed at enhancing and sustaining the quality of temporary housing on military bases. In 2009, IHG Hotels became the sole hospitality partner for the Army, with a focus on crafting superior lodging experiences specifically designed for military personnel, their families, and other guests.
Now, after fifteen years, IHG Army Hotels remains the only operator of hospitality services on 40 military sites across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. These facilities incorporate the familiar and respected brands of Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites, and Staybridge Suites, providing the comforts and services typically found in civilian hotels, including free hot breakfasts, complimentary laundry services, social barbecues each week, and access to fitness and business centers.
As IHG Army Hotels marks this significant anniversary, it takes pride in its ongoing commitment to delivering True Hospitality for Good, catering to the needs of America’s military heroes, their families, and civilian guests while looking forward to continuing this legacy.
Here’s an interesting fact:
The collaboration between IHG Army Hotels and the PAL program initially involved upgrading facilities at ten Army bases and setting new standards for operations. The first hotel under the IHG brand to open was a Holiday Inn Express in 2010 at what was then known as Fort Polk in Louisiana (now Fort Johnson).
Since its inception in 2009, IHG Army Hotels has accumulated over 40 million room nights booked by military travelers.
Under the PAL agreement, IHG not only manages but also develops the properties, while its partner, Rest Easy (previously known as LendLease), manages ownership, design, and asset management.
For many military personnel and their families, temporary lodging is their first introduction to a new duty station. A welcoming and comforting atmosphere at these hotels helps ease this transition, making guests feel at home.
For some, the presence of a beloved pet can make all the difference in adjusting to new surroundings. IHG Army Hotels accommodates* domestic pets, including service and emotional support animals, recognizing the deep bonds that military members often share with their animals, whether they served alongside them or provide comfort following service.
In addition to introducing the familiar Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites, and Staybridge Suites brands to military installations and their travelers, IHG Army Hotels also operates 15 properties under the Historia Collection. This unique subset features historic buildings on military posts, each with significant historical value to the Army or the nation.
For military personnel considering travel after their assignments, the IHG One Rewards loyalty program offers a valuable perk. Members staying at on-post locations accrue points just as they would at any civilian IHG property, with military guests having earned nearly seven billion points through this initiative.
The staff at IHG Army Hotels often includes individuals with extensive experience on military posts, such as former U.S. Army Lodging employees, military spouses, veterans, and retired service members. These teams are well-versed in military culture, emphasizing empathy, respect, and care to foster a secure and welcoming atmosphere.
Many IHG Army Hotels employees have remained with the program since its inception, with those transitioning from U.S. Army Lodging in 2009 maintaining an impressive 80 percent retention rate.
IHG Army Hotels is committed to contributing to the military community through various initiatives. These efforts include recruitment through the IHG Academy and annual donations to veteran-support organizations like the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the Fisher House Foundation.
The Teen Academy program offers a 10-week summer internship that introduces military dependents and hotel colleagues’ children to the hospitality industry. Participants receive practical training in essential operations, preparing them for future career opportunities.
The landscape of military lodging is ever-evolving, adapting to meet the shifting needs of military travelers and industry standards. According to the PAL Program Development Plan, on-post properties are refreshed every six years and undergo major renovations every 12 years.
Looking ahead, IHG Army Hotels is poised for significant development, with over $5 billion earmarked for reinvestment over the next 50 years. This commitment to modernization is already visible in the recent renovations at the original Ft. Johnson Holiday Inn Express and the redesigned Organ Mountains Inn at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Future renovation efforts will focus on sustainability, incorporating energy-efficient materials, durable fixtures, and practices that conserve water and energy.
A standout example of these sustainable efforts is the Candlewood Suites on Alabama’s Redstone Arsenal. Opened in March 2016, it was the first hotel in the IHG Army Hotels portfolio to achieve Silver LEED certification and the first to be constructed using cross-laminated timber—a practice now expanded to four additional Candlewood Suites on military bases.
