15 interesting facts about IHG Army Hotels on the occasion of their 15th anniversary of serving the military community

Nearly two decades ago, the U.S. Army launched the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program to improve the conditions of temporary lodging on bases and ensure its long-term viability. In 2009, IHG joined the program as the Army’s exclusive partner with the mission of providing exceptional hotel stays tailored to the unique needs of military personnel, families and guests.

Fifteen years later, IHG Army Hotels continues to be the exclusive operator of hotels at 40 military bases across the United States and Puerto Rico. IHG Army Hotels leverages the proven quality of its renowned and popular Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites brands while offering the familiar amenities and benefits of off-base hotels – such as free hot breakfast, free guest laundry, weekly barbecues, and fitness and business centers.

As we celebrate this special milestone, IHG Army Hotels looks to the future with a legacy of providing true hospitality to military heroes, families and civilians.

Did you know?

1. The connection between IHG Army Hotels and the PAL program began with the renovation of 10 Army bases and the implementation of new standards and operating procedures. The first IHG hotel in the portfolio was a Holiday Inn Express, which opened in 2010 at Fort Polk (now Fort Johnson) in Louisiana.
2. Since 2009, military travelers have spent more than 40 million nights at IHG Army Hotels.
3. Under the terms of the PAL program, IHG acts as the property operator and developer, while partner Rest Easy (formerly LendLease) is responsible for ownership, design and asset management.
4. For many guests – active duty military members, their families, Department of Defense employees, military contractors and retirees – temporary housing is often the first experience at a new duty station. A warm, friendly welcome at any lodging facility puts travelers at ease and invites them into a comfortable environment.
5. Sometimes the key to a smooth transition to temporary housing is as simple as the presence of a loyal four-legged friend. IHG Army Hotels accept* pets, service animals and assistance animals, honoring the bond some soldiers have with their companion animals who have accompanied them in combat or provided therapeutic benefits afterward.
   (*Standard Army restrictions apply, and fees may apply for non-service pets.)
6. In addition to providing military bases and travelers with the trusted Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites brands, IHG Army Hotels also operates 15 hotels under the Historia Collection name, a group of converted historic buildings on bases that are significant to the Army, the base and/or the nation.
7. Are you dreaming of a fun and relaxing post-deployment trip? Military guests who participate in the IHG One Rewards loyalty program can earn points for stays on base just like at any other IHG-branded hotel. To date, military travelers have earned nearly seven billion rewards points at IHG Army hotels.
8. IHG Army Hotels’ staff often has decades of experience on base, including former U.S. Army Lodging employees, military spouses, veterans and military retirees. These diverse teams are trained in military life and value empathy, respect and caring to create a safe and welcoming environment.
9. Many of IHG Army Hotels’ more than 1,800 employees have served in their roles throughout the program. Colleagues who transferred from US Army Lodging to IHG Army Hotels in 2009 have maintained an 80 percent retention rate.
10. IHG Army Hotels places a strong emphasis on giving back to the military community through various programs on base, including recruitment efforts through the IHG Academy and annual contributions to organizations that support the military and civilian service – such as the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the Fisher House Foundation.
11. The Teen Academy program offers a 10-week summer internship where family members of hotel colleagues and local military personnel learn about career opportunities in the hospitality industry while receiving hands-on training in key operational functions.
12. Military housing is dynamic and constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of military travelers and the industry as a whole. Under the PAL Program Development Plan, on-base housing undergoes major renewals every six years and major renovations every 12 years.
13. Over the next 50 years, IHG Army Hotels will benefit from over $5 billion in planned reinvestment, and this modernization is already evident in the recently completed renovations of the original Fort Johnson Holiday Inn Express and the newly renovated Organ Mountains Inn at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
14. Future renovation plans will focus on sustainable operations. These transformations will include more energy efficient building materials, longer lasting fixtures, furniture and appliances, and conserving water and energy in daily operations.
15. The Candlewood Suites hotel on Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, which opened in March 2016, was the first IHG Army hotel of the brand to receive LEED Silver certification. It was also the first hotel to be built using cross-laminated timber, a practice that has since been expanded to four other Candlewood Suites hotels on the base.

For more information about IHG Army Hotels, visit www.IHGArmyHotels.com.

About IHG^®

IHG Hotels & Resorts (LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)) is a global hospitality company dedicated to delivering genuine hospitality for good.

With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programs, IHG has more than 6,000 hotels opened in more than 100 countries and another 1,800 in the development pipeline.

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Jamie Cwalinski
IHG