Openings in Alabama and Kansas Help the Candlewood Suites® Brand Surpass 300th Hotel Milestone

150 150 Daniel Fountain
  • 0

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) announces a major milestone for Candlewood Suites® hotels as the brand celebrates the opening of two new properties – Candlewood Suites Birmingham/Homewood (Alabama) and Candlewood Suites Manhattan (Kansas) – and a portfolio now exceeding 300 hotels. The brand was purchased by IHG in 2003 and has since grown rapidly, nearly tripling in size. The brand is poised to continue its rapid growth, with more than 75 hotels currently in the pipeline.“We are excited to reach this major milestone,” said Robert Radomski, vice president Brand Leadership, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites. “The Candlewood Suites brand has grown by 100 hotels over the past few years, and our most recent opening in Manhattan, Kan., is just a short drive from Wichita, Kansas where the brand originated in 1996.”

The new Candlewood Suites Manhattan, Kan., hotel has 84 suites and is located at 210 Blue Earth Place in the newly developed downtown area. The hotel is directly across the street from the Flint Hills Discovery Center and provides convenient access to Kansas State University; the U.S. Army’s 100,000-acre Fort Riley, home of the 1st Infantry Division; and the Manhattan Town Center mall.

“We’re pleased to bring the first extended stay property to Manhattan and honored to play a role in growing the Candlewood Suites brand in Kansas. It is thrilling to return to the birthplace of the brand as we hit this important milestone,” said Beth Lohman, general manager, Candlewood Suites Manhattan. “This opening is also exciting for us because this development is an integral part of Manhattan’s revitalized downtown.”

The new Candlewood Suites – Birmingham/Homewood hotel has 81 suites and is located at 400 Commons Drive in Homewood, Ala., approximately eight miles from downtown Birmingham. The hotel offers easy access to Interstate 65 and the Birmingham School of Medicine and Medical Center. Birmingham, Alabama’s largest city, also offers many nearby attractions including the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to the vibrant ‘Magic City’ of Birmingham and to all that Candlewood Suites hotels have to offer,” said Kathryn Lomasney, general manager, Candlewood Suites Birmingham/Homewood. “Our guests will love the design of our spacious suites, and the hotel’s amenities will allow them to live comfortably and keep a daily routine similar to that of home.”

Candlewood Suites hotels are focused on comfort, space and value, and all feature a combination of studio and one-bedroom suite floor plans with a fully equipped kitchen, executive desk, DVD player, recliner and telephone with voice mail, plus free local calls along with a variety of home-like amenities, including free wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, free on-site Guest Laundry facilities and the 24-hour Candlewood Gym. Unique to Candlewood Suites hotels, guests can also enjoy the convenience of the Candlewood Cupboard®, where a variety of beverages, breakfast items, snacks, frozen entrées and sundries can be purchased on the honour system at any time and where guests can enjoy complimentary, freshly brewed Maxwell House coffee.

The Candlewood Suites Manhattan, owned by Flinthills Hospitality and managed by Noble Hospitality, and the Candlewood Suites Birmingham/Homewood, owned by Lakeshore Holdings, LLC, and managed by N8, LLC, are both franchised by affiliates of IHG.

Daniel Fountain / 22.03.2013

Editor, Hotel Designs

Share

  • 0

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Work highlights: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher atSPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.
Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.