U.S. Army privatizing third group of on-post hotels

By ASA (IE&E)May 6, 2013

U.S. Army privatizing third group of on-post hotels
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

PENTAGON, Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Army will privatize on-post lodging operations 1 May at eighteen installations in twelve states.

The action, brings to 39 the number of privatization conveyances since the program began August 15, 2009 with the first group of ten.

A second group of eleven on-post lodging operations was privatized August 12, 2011. The privatization program when complete will affect all Army Lodging facilities in the continental United States.

"This program reflects the U.S. Army's commitment to improving its transient lodging to enhance the quality of life for soldiers and their families," said the Honorable Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy & environment.

"The recapitalization of the on-post lodging facilities is critical to ensure that U.S. military students and other official travelers have convenient, affordable accommodations in close proximity to their mission and post facilities. The program also allows the U.S. Army to divest itself of a non-core function and transfer to the private sector in a manner that ensures the long-term sustainability of the hotels," she added.

The Privatized Army Lodging program competition was won by the development firm Lend Lease and their selected hotelier, InterContinental Hotels Group, in September 2006.

Over the next eight years, Lend Lease will invest approximately $1 billion in the facilities renovating 9,030 rooms and constructing 2,607 rooms across the privatized lodging portfolio.

The 11,637 room end-state portfolio of hotels will be a mix of well recognized and well respected IHG brands such as: Candlewood Suites®, Staybridge Suites®, and Holiday Inn Express®, as well as renovated historic facilities.

Since 2009, 1,277 rooms at six installations have been converted to the Holiday Inn Express® brand standard. Five new Candlewood Suites® hotels are already under construction. Enhanced on-post guest services include complimentary breakfasts, pet-friendly rooms and the IHG Priority Club frequent-stay program.

Room rates at the hotels are offered at an average rate of 75 percent of the local lodging per diem offering savings to official travelers from off-post rates. Additionally the U.S. Army saves installation appropriated funds dollars that had previously been spent supporting the U.S. Army Lodging facilities through free utilities and operational & maintenance support.

The on-post lodging facilities being privatized May 1st as part of the Group C action include: Redstone Arsenal, Ala.; Parks Reserve Forces Training Area, The Presidio of Monterey, BT Collins Army Reserve Center, and Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.; Fort Carson, Colo.; Hunter Army Airfield, and Fort Stewart, Ga.; Aberdeen Proving Ground, and Fort Meade, Md.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Carlisle Barracks, Pa.; Fort Drum, and the U.S. Army Garrison West Point, N.Y.; Dugway Proving Ground, Utah; Fort Jackson, S.C.; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; Fort McCoy, Wisc.

On August 15, 2009, the U.S. Army privatized the on-post lodging operations at: Fort Rucker, Ala.; Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.; Fort Shafter & Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawai'i; Forts Leavenworth and Riley, Kan.; Fort Polk, La.; Fort Sill, Okla.; Fort Hood and Joint Base San Antonio (Sam Houston), Texas; and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (Myer), Va.

On August 12, 2011, the U.S. Army privatized on-post lodging operations at: Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Fort Huachuca, Ariz.; Forts Campbell and Knox, Ky.; Fort Gordon, Ga.; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fort Hamilton, N.Y.; White Sands Missile Range, N.M..; Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; Fort Bliss, Texas; and Fort Belvoir, Va.

The Military Housing Privatization Initiative is authorized under the United States Code. For more information about the U.S. Army's Privatization of Army Lodging program visit www.pal.army.mil.

Related Links:

Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy and Environment)

IHG PAL Website

Privatization of Army Lodging