FORT RILEY, Kan. - The U.S. Army announced that it will transfer the first 10 installations under the Army's Privatization of Army Lodging program Aug. 15. The transfer is a reinforcement of the U.S. Army's commitment to improving its transient lodging to enhance the quality of life of Soldiers and their Families.
Actus Lend Lease will perform the redevelopment of the lodging facilities and lodging operations will be assumed by the InterContinental Hotels Group.
"PAL brings world class lodging practices and private sector investment to support quality of life requirements of our Soldiers, Families and civilians as they serve," said Lt. Gen. Robert Wilson, assistant chief of staff for installation management.
Most of the Army Lodging employees affected by the transfer will receive offers of employment from IHG. Retained employees will have their Army Lodging employment honored as IHG service time. Seven of the 10 affected Army Lodging general managers have accepted IHG positions.
The 10 Group A installations are: Fort Rucker, Ala.; Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Fort Riley, Kan.; Fort Polk, La.; Fort Sill, Okla.; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.; Fort Myer, Va.; Fort Shafter/Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii.
Upon transfer of the lodging rooms, the project will begin correcting commercial code noncompliance issues and overhauling the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems of the existing inventory. These renovations and the conversion of five hotels to Holiday Inn Express hotels will be complete within the first two years.
The 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, and renovated historic facilities. Enhanced guest services including complimentary breakfasts, pet-friendly rooms and the IHG Priority Club frequent-stay program will start upon transfer.
Through the PAL program, the Army has engaged the private sector to manage, build, renovate, maintain and operate transient lodging on Army installations. The program is modeled after the Army's successful privatized Family housing program, the Residential Communities Initiative.
"The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley are taking the lead as the first division-level installation in the world to provide a better quality of service for our Soldiers and their Families through Privatization of Army Lodging," said Mick McCallister, acting housing manager and residential communities initiatives chief. McCallister said InterContinental Hotels Group will build a new hotel under the brand Candlewood Suites to replace current transient lodging.
McCallister said the next two years at Fort Riley will focus on operational and infrastructure improvements to all the facilities conveyed to the private operator.
He said as part of the contract two historic buildings already used for lodging will be renovated. These buildings, Bacon Hall and Waters Hall, originally built in the 1800s, will provide nine rooms when the project is complete. These facilities, located on Fort Riley's Main Post, are part of the installation's historic collection of buildings, McCallister said. He added that the projected lodging end-state for Fort Riley is 148 rooms.
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