We are pleased to announce that we have opened to doors of our second ESOP owned new-build hotel in El Paso, Texas. The 109 room, four-story El Paso Airport Area Staybridge Suites opened its doors on July 1, 2011.

The El Paso Staybridge Suites hotels offer spacious suites, full kitchens and numerous upscale amenities allowing guests to make an extended stay an extended pleasure. Stretch out in  studio, 1 bedroom, or 2-bedroom / 2-bathroom suite with separate living and working areas.  Stay connected with free high-speed Internet access, both wired and wireless.

CLICK HERE to read more about this beautiful new hotel and make your reservation at the El Paso Airport Area Staybridge Suites.

In late 2008, when Marriott International unveiled a new prototype with a redesigned lobby for the Courtyard by Marriott brand, they had a pretty good idea that guests would react positively. Now with about 100 hotels, with our Bloomington/Normal, Illinois Courtyard included in the roll out, the company can now be sure.

The redesigned lobby, which features a more open floor plan, the latest technology and healthy food and beverage options, is a key aspect to the new design. The new lobby is based on extensive consumer research and is designed to get people out of their rooms.

The new layout of the lobby design has also changed the way associates service guests, as the traditional front desk has been replaced with separate welcome podiums, which are designed to create more personal interactions between staff and guests during check-in. High tech, high style and high touch, there are a number of elements geared for technology including a business library with computer terminal, private media booths with high-definition televisions and the new Courtyard GoBoard. The GoBoard is a 52-inch touch screen with local information, maps, weather and news, business and sports headlines. Guests can navigate the GoBoard by using the touch screen to find restaurants, local attractions and directions.

Limited service brands are not known for expansive food and beverage offerings but the new Courtyard is changing that concept. In addition to the 24-hour Market for on-the-go guests, the new “Bistro” features a number of healthy food items made fresh to order. Guests can now enjoy hot, customized breakfast selections and then return in the evening for a glass of wine and social appetizers or an evening meal.

The new concept also extends into the guestrooms as well with a new focus on design and a fresh new color palette. A fresh, new look including luxurious bedding, beautiful furniture, designer decorating combined with a style to help guests relax and re-energize. From floor to ceiling, you are going to love what you see.

Lush new linens, multiple choices of pillow softness, flat screen televisions, in-room coffee makers, iron and board and hair dryer are only a few of the many amenities that make the new Courtyard by Marriott in Bloomington Normal a must stay when in the area. For more information and to book accommodations at the Bloomington/Normal Courtyard by Marriott, follow the link below:

Bloomington/Normal Courtyard by Marriott
310A Greenbriar Drive
Normal, Illinois 61761
Phone: 309.862.1166 Fax: 309.862.1166

Website: www.courtyard.com

A target date of Fall 2010 has been set for the opening of the all new Residence Inn by Marriott, now under construction at 3110 Wall Street, Lexington, Kentucky.  Just minutes from Beaumont Center and the Lexington Blue Grass Field Airport.

As an ESOP company, we are proud to say that even in an economy that has seen such a sharp downturn in the past 18 months, we are continuing to grow and move forward into the future with new investments and projects similar to the Lexington Residence Inn. A new Holiday Inn Express in El Paso, Texas is also in the beginning stages of construction and expected to open in early 2011.

The Lexington Residence Inn is a 104-suite inn that will feature Marriott’s new upscale image with a new decorating scheme and open lobby concept that follows in the footsteps of the extremely successful re-imaging of their Courtyard by Marriott brand but still maintain that “at home” feeling that has been a hallmark of the Residence Inn brand.

The property features studios,  one and two-bedroom suites that are designed for extended stays. Each suite has a kitchen with coffee maker, microwave oven, full-size appliances and free high-speed Internet access. The new lobby concept will feature a library with open spaces for relaxing and also a private Business Center which includes work spaces with flat panel televisions.

Tharaldson Hospitality is extremely proud to lend a hand to Brady Homes and Extreme Makeover Home Edition while they are building a new home for the Montgomery Family in Champaign, IL. As employee owners we take great pride in our hotels and this opportunity to help others and in our community!

On August 18, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” traveled to Champaign County, IL to meet Nathan Montgomery who gave up a lucrative engineering career to start a charity that feeds hundreds of hungry families in his community. On Tuesday, August 25th, team leader Ty Pennington, his designers and hundreds of volunteers will rebuild the crumbling home of Nathan, his wife Jenny and their four children – providing them with comfort and security they now cannot afford for themselves.

Nathan was a promising young engineer on his way to a six-figure management position when he first began volunteering to help the needy. Realizing he wanted to pursue charity work full time, Nathan stepped off the fast track to launch Salt and Light, the philanthropic organization he leads as executive director. Nathan has seen the number of local families in need rise dramatically during the current economic crisis, and Salt and Light now feeds an average of 250 families each week.

Tharaldson Hospitality is glad to be a part of this great cause. Our Champaign, IL hotels; Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn by Marriott and Comfort Inn by Choice Hotels, will work together to donate rooms for the Brady Homes builders who have come together to aid in the amazing task of building a home in just seven days.

Click on the links below to learn more about the contractor who is building the home and visit our hotels located in Champaign…

Brady Homes – The Contractor

Champaign Courtyard by Marriott

Champaign Fairfield Inn by Marriott

Champaign Comfort Inn by Choice Hotels

Bloomington, Illinois Comfort Suites earns Choice Platinum Award

Congratulations to our Bloomington Comfort Suites as they received the Platinum Award from Choice. They are also a finalist for “Hotel of the Year” for the Comfort Suites Brand. Good Luck!

Pictured are (left) Pat Waggoner, GM of the Bloomington/Normal Comfort Suites and Dion Smith, AGM.

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Congratulations to the following winners at the
annual Marriott International Conferences

Fairfield Inn – Diamond Hotels
San Bernardino, California

Fairfield Inn – Gold Circle
Chicago Naperville, Illinois
Findlay, Ohio
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Fairfield Inn – Silver Circle
Chicago Naperville/Aurora, Illinois
Lansing, Michigan
Quail Springs North, Oklahoma

TownePlace Suites – Silver Hotels
Chicago Naperville, Illinois

Residence Inn – Gold Hotels
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Residence Inn – Silver Hotels
Appleton, Wisconsin
Manassas Battlefield Park, Virginia
Phoenix Glendale/Peoria, Arizona

Courtyard – Silver Circle Award
Kingston, New York

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Congratulations to these winners named at the
Annual Hilton Conference!

Highest Extended Stay Percentage
Houston Westchase, Texas
Houston Willowbrook Mall, Texas

Director of Sales of the Year
Elana Atieh from Houston Willowbrook Mall, Texas

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Congratulations to the Fairfield Inn of Findlay, Ohio for receiving an award for Problem Incidence.  They ranked 2 out of 563 hotels.  The hotel is very proud of this award and we extend our CONGRATULATIONS to the management and staff!

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