CHICAGO— Six Continents Hotels kicked up some dirt here last week with the ground breaking of two new Staybridge Suites Hotels in the city’s suburbs, both owned by the same developer. “In the short history of the brand, it is unprecedented to have begun construction on two properties in the same town with the same owner and contractor on the same day,” said Jim Anhut, svp/brand manager of Staybridge. Steve Porter, president/Americas for 6C, added that the simultaneous Chicago ground breakings, “not only mark a historical moment for Staybridge but for our company. This doesn’t happen a lot.” The new 120-room extended-stay hotel in Glenview, IL and the 118-room all-suite property in Lincolnshire, IL are both owned by Dellisart Inc., a new company formed in 2000 by Douglas Artusio, former executive of Holiday Inn. The new venture, of which Artusio is president and CEO, is focused on extended-stay development. “These projects represent the culmination of 25 years of hotel experience,” said Artusio, noting his eight-year tenure Bass Hotels & Resorts (now 6C). When asked why his company is so focused on the Staybridge brand, Artusio said, “The choice is simple. Holiday Inn is a pioneer in the industry that has helped launch several brands… I want to be on the ground floor of development for Staybridge.” Anhut echoed these sentiments with references to numerous successful lodging brands— each spawned from Holiday Inn, such as Holiday Inn Express, Inter-Continental, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Residence Inn, and now Staybridge. With the ground breakings being held only two days after the anniversary of 9/11, Anhut also offered feelings of patriotism to the group of approximately 25 attendees. “This year is the 50th anniversary of our core brand, Holiday Inn. This week the country reflects on a historic national tragedy. And today we recognize the accomplishments of two entrepreneurs,” he said, thanking Dellisart and Kiferbaum Construction Corp., which will build both of the new properties. “You exemplify the passion of the American spirit… through your energy and make-things-better attitude,” he stated. “Last year at this time the nation was stunned and mourning. Now we persist and continue to strive for a better world.” The new $13 million, 77, 400 square-foot Glenview hotel is one of the first hotels under construction near the budding Prairie Glen Corporate Campus, and the $15 million, 77,000 square foot Lincolnshire hotel sits amidst shopping, restaurant, golf, and office complexes. They mark the 58th and 59th additions to the brand, with more than 30 other Staybridge projects currently under development, said Porter.
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