IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG; NYSE: IHG] announced that the 250th Candlewood Suites hotel opened in Kalamazoo, Mich., on Oct. 26, 2009.
'As the fastest growing brand in the midscale extended-stay segment, Candlewood Suites has been steadily growing its footprint since IHG acquired the brand in 2003,' said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Brand Delivery, the Americas, IHG. 'In the past year alone we've opened on average one hotel a week, and with more properties in the pipeline than any other brand in its segment, Candlewood Suites is set to continue this robust growth across the U.S. and Canada'
Reaching 250 open hotels is just one of the milestones Candlewood Suites has recently accomplished. The brand opened its 200th property in October 2008 in Rocky Mount, N.C., and Candlewood Suites New York City-Times Square opened in July 2009 as the hotel industry's first midscale extended-stay hotel to open in Manhattan.
In addition to being the 250th hotel, the Kalamazoo property features the brand's new prototype design, offering a comfortable residential look and feel incorporating a new exterior design and paint scheme, an expanded lobby and environmentally-friendly amenities.
The hotel incorporates the new exterior prototype design with a straight, forward-facing rectangular building including a new entry way and roofline for curb appeal. In addition to the new building shape, the exterior color scheme features light khaki, olive green, tan and dark blue. The new hotel has an increased outdoor residential feel with a centrally located Gazebo Grill and "backyard" landscaping.
The interior of the Candlewood Suites Kalamazoo features an expanded lobby area accommodating multiple seating areas with comfortable furniture and a 42-inch flat screen television that creates a living room-type gathering place for guests. The new lobby was designed to encourage more interaction among guests and between guests and hotel team members.
The Candlewood Suites Kalamazoo is also decreasing water and energy consumption through the use of environmentally-friendly amenities, including low-flow shower heads and toilets, Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs), increased natural light and sodium vapor fixtures.
Guests at the Kalamazoo property can take advantage of the just-like-home amenities available at all Candlewood Suites hotels, including complimentary high-speed Internet access, free local phone calls, free on-site guest laundry and a 24-hour fitness center. Unique to Candlewood Suites, guests can also enjoy the convenience of the Candlewood Cupboard(R), where a variety of beverages, breakfast items, snacks, frozen entrees and sundries can be purchased on the honor system at any time and where guests can enjoy complimentary Juan Valdez freshly brewed coffee. Additionally, guests of the Candlewood Suites can visit the free Lending Library, where movies and music are available for use in guestrooms, which all feature a DVD and CD player.
Candlewood Suites guestrooms feature studio or one-bedroom suite floor plans with a full kitchen, comfortable recliner, large workspace with comfortable desk chair and overhead lighting. Each of the hotel's 95 guest suites features the brand's Comforts of Home(TM) Bedding Collection with upgraded mattresses and box spring sets, mattress topper, fluffy duvet inserts and poly-cotton covers matching the hotel's color scheme, 250-thread count micro-check sateen sheets in 'Candlelight', triple sheeting, contemporary cotton estate blankets, choice of three upgraded pillow types in firm, medium and feather and a decorative 'Consider Us Home' pillow.
The new property is located off Interstate 94 near local businesses including Pfizer, State Farm Insurance and Stryker. Borgess and Branson Hospitals and Western Michigan University are also a short drive away from the hotel.
The Candlewood Suites Kalamazoo is owned by Comstock Hospitality, Inc., and managed by Comstock Hospitality, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group, and is located at 3443 Retail Place Dr., Kalamazoo, Mich., 49098. Telephone: 269-270-3203; Facsimile: 269-270-3290
Logos, product and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
