PENTAGON, Washington DC -- The U.S. Army privatized the on-post lodging operations at 11 installations Aug. 12, 2011 , reinforcing the Army's commitment to improving transient lodging and enhancing the Quality of Life of Soldiers and their Families.
The installations are Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Fort Hamilton, New York; Fort Gordon, Georgia; Fort Knox, Kentucky; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
Through the Privatized Army Lodging program, the Army has engaged the private sector to manage, build, renovate, maintain and operate transient lodging on Army installations within the continental United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
This latest transfer is an expansion of the current PAL program which privatized lodging on ten installations two years ago and has already delivered more than 1,100 on-post Holiday Inn Express hotel rooms.
Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, said, "Taking care of Soldiers and their Families is a key goal. Public and private partnerships are essential to installations and we believe that this partnership between Lend Lease, IHG and the Army is a very good example of how we are accomplishing that goal."
Rest Easy LLC has already begun the process of renovating the on-post lodging it acquired from the Army in 2009. It is expected that end-state portfolio of hotels will be a mix of well recognized and well respected International Hotels Group brands. Most of the renovated facilities will be converted to Holiday Inn Express hotels and most of the new construction will be Candlewood Suites hotels. Enhanced guest services including complimentary breakfasts, pet-friendly rooms, and the IHG Priority Club frequent-stay program will start upon transfer.
Many of the Army Lodging employees affected by the transfer have accepted offers of employment from IHG. Retained employees will have their Army Lodging employment honored as IHG service time and several of the new General Managers positions have been filled by former Army Lodging employees.
The latest privatization will also be owned by Rest Easy LLC. Lend Lease will perform the redevelopment of the lodging facilities for Rest Easy. The privatized lodging will be operated for Rest Easy LLC by InterContinental Hotels Group. Upon completion of the five-year initial development period, Rest Easy LLC's 21 installation portfolio will offer 8,500 renovated and newly constructed hotel rooms for official travelers.
Related Links:
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment
Social Sharing