Soldiering On: 15 Fun Facts About IHG Army Hotels as It Celebrates 15 Years of Serving the Military Community

Nearly two decades ago, the U.S. Army established the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program to improve the conditions of – and ensure long-term viability for – temporary on-post lodging facilities. In 2009, IHG joined the effort as the Army’s exclusive partner with a mission to deliver exceptional hotel stay experiences tailored to the unique needs of military service members, families and guests.

Fifteen years later, IHG Army Hotels continues to serve as the exclusive operator of hotels across 40 military installations throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Leveraging the trusted quality of its renowned and well-loved Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites brands, IHG Army Hotels offer the familiar amenities and conveniences of off-post properties – such as complimentary hot breakfast, free guest laundry, weekly barbecue socials, and fitness and business centers.

As it celebrates this special milestone, IHG Army Hotels reflects on its legacy of providing True Hospitality for Good to military heroes, families and civilians with an eye on the future.

Did you know?

1. 1. The intersection of IHG Army Hotels and the PAL program began with renovations of 10 Army posts and the introduction of new standards and operational processes. The first IHG-branded hotel within the portfolio was a Holiday Inn Express, which opened in 2010 at Louisiana’s Fort Polk (now Fort Johnson).
   2. Since 2009, military travelers have amassed more than 40 million room nights across IHG Army Hotels properties.
   3. Through the terms of the PAL program, IHG serves as property operator and developer, while partner, Rest Easy (formerly LendLease) oversees ownership, design and asset management.
   4. Temporary lodging often is the first experience at a new duty station for many guests – active-duty service members, their families, Department of Defense employees, military contractors and retirees. A warm, friendly welcome at each property puts travelers at ease and invites them into a comfortable environment.
   5. Sometimes the key to a smooth transition to temporary housing is as easy as having a trusted four-legged friend nearby. IHG Army Hotels accept* domestic, service and emotional support animals, honoring the connection certain military men and women have with pets who joined them in combat or provide therapeutic benefits afterward.
   6. Beyond bringing the familiarity of the Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites brands to military posts and travelers, IHG Army Hotels operates 15 properties under the Historia Collection name. This group consists of converted on-post historic buildings bearing significance to the Army, post and/or nation.
   7. Already dreaming of fun and relaxing post-assignment travel? Military guests who are IHG One Rewards loyalty program members can earn points for on-post stays just as they would at any other IHG-branded property. To date, military travelers have earned nearly seven billion rewards points across IHG Army Hotels.
   8. IHG Army Hotels colleagues often have decades of experience on-post, including former U.S. Army Lodging employees, military spouses, veterans and retired military personnel. These diverse teams are trained in the military lifestyle and prioritize empathy, respect and care to create a safe and welcoming environment.
   9. Many of the more than 1,800 IHG Army Hotels employees have served in their roles throughout the entirety of the program. Colleagues who transitioned from U.S. Army Lodging to IHG Army Hotels in 2009 have maintained an 80 percent retention rate.
   10. IHG Army Hotels prioritizes giving back to the military community through various on-post programs. This includes hiring efforts through the IHG Academy and annual contributions to organizations that support military and civil 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 dependents of hotel colleagues and on-post military personnel learn more about hospitality career opportunities while gaining hands-on job training across critical operations functions.
   12. Military lodging is dynamic and continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of military travelers and the overall industry. Under the PAL Program Development Plan, on-post properties enjoy fundamental refreshes every six years and major renovations every 12 years.
   13. During the next 50 years, IHG Army Hotels properties will benefit from more than $5 billion in planned reinvestment. This modernization already is evident in recently completed renovations at the original Ft. Johnson Holiday Inn Express and the newly remodeled Organ Mountains Inn in the White Sands Missile Range of New Mexico.
   14. Future renovation plans include an emphasis on sustainable operations. These transformations include more energy efficient building materials, longer lasting fixtures, furniture and equipment, and the conservation of water and energy in day-to-day operational practices.
   15. Opened in March 2016, the Candlewood Suites hotel on Alabama’s Redstone Arsenal became the first IHG Army Hotel under that brand to earn Silver LEED certification. It also was the first built with cross laminated timber – a practice now extended to four other on-base Candlewood Suites properties.

To learn more about IHG Army Hotels, visit www.IHGArmyHotels.com.