Largest ever Candlewood Suites hotel opens in Georgia

by | 31 Jul 2020 | Projects

A 311-room Candlewood Suites hotel has opened in the US state of Georgia following a successful collaboration between IHG Army Hotels, the US Army and Lendlease.

A new property, the Candlewood Suites on Fort Gordon, has just launched in Augusta, Georgia. We find out more about the popular brand’s largest hotel to date.

Upgrading the military base’s hotel offering

With the arrival of Candlewood Suites on Fort Gordon, the successful collaboration between IHG Army Hotels, the US Army and Lendlease now encompasses a portfolio of 40 properties located on US military installations.

Lendlease is the property’s owner, developer, design-builder and asset manager, and the exclusive developer for the Department of Defense’s only lodging privatisation programme, under which the new Candlewood Suites was developed. IHG, meanwhile, is the hotel operator and manager of IHG Army Hotels.

“This new Candlewood Suites is a welcomed replacement of a hotel at Fort Gordon that was past its prime and exemplifies the vast benefits of privatisation by continual improvement of facilities,” said Gretchen Turpen, SVP, head of lodging for Lendlease. “We are proud to continue providing quality, cost-effective accommodations without government funding. The entire Lendlease and IHG Army Hotels teams worked diligently to deliver this impressive hotel and we look forward to continuing to provide hotels that improve the quality of life of service members and their families in the years to come.”

Inside Candlewood Suites on Fort Gordon

The 311-room property, the world’s largest Candlewood Suites hotel to date, boasts all the amenities that the brand has become synonymous with. For example, each room comes with a kitchenette equipped with a two-burner stove and a full-sized fridge, complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi and local phone calls.

Onsite, there is a 24-hour fitness centre, a self-service laundry room, a business centre and the popular Candlewood Cupboard – where visitors can buy snacks – as well as the Lending Locker, which lets guests borrow household items and small appliances.

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the hotel’s beautiful natural surroundings and its proximity to Lake Thurmond and the Diamond Lakes, while golfers can practise their swing on nearby courses, including the Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters.

Chuck Sourbeer, head of operations, IHG Army Hotels, said: “The Candlewood Suites on Fort Gordon is an excellent addition to the IHG Army Hotels portfolio under the successful PAL [Privatization of Army Lodging] program. Whether military travellers are with us for a single night, or an extended stay, this hotel provides space to settle in and rest during their journey, supported by hotel colleagues who understand the needs of military travellers. We are honoured to support the base’s mission and deliver IHG’s signature hospitality and amenities to travellers through Fort Gordon.”

Fort Gordon Garrison commander Colonel James Clifford added: “The opening of the Candlewood Suites is a concrete example of the investment going into Fort Gordon and is in direct support of the incredible cyber growth of the installation. As ARCYBER [US Army Cyber Command] continues to expand their footprint, this Candlewood Suites hotel is the cornerstone of our ability to house our service members, whether they need temporary lodging as they move to the area, or for our service members here in a temporary training status. We’re proud to have this world-class hotel on our installation.”

ABOUT THE CHAIN

Candlewood Suites is focused on comfort, space and value.