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Centinel Public Partnerships and IHG Army Hotels Mark Fort Bragg Milestone with Brand-New Candlewood Suites and Exclusive First Look at Normandy House

Ribbon-cutting highlights more than $75 million invested to modernize lodging at Fort Bragg  

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (April 15, 2026) – Centinel Public Partnerships (Centinel) and IHG® Army Hotels (IHG) officially unveiled the new Candlewood Suites on North Carolina’s Fort Bragg with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 14. The completion of this property marks the 17th Candlewood Suites in Centinel and IHG’s Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolio, which spans Army installations nationwide. This event also included a preview of renovations underway at Normandy House, which will be included in IHG’s specially designed Historia Collection™. Together, both developments represent a more than $75 million investment by Centinel.  

Built on the site of the former Hardy Hall, the new Candlewood Suites on Fort Bragg spans more than 122,000 square feet and features 207 guestrooms, with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites available. Amenities include fully equipped kitchens in each guest room, guest laundry facilities, courtesy on-post shuttle, outdoor pavilion with barbecue area, 24-hour Candlewood Cupboard market, fitness center, a separate lounge for Distinguished Visitors, complimentary hot breakfast, pet-friendly accommodation and weekly social events.  

The hotel was constructed with cross-laminated timber (CLT), the sixth hotel in the PAL portfolio to do so. Composed of renewable materials that store carbon, CLT surpasses traditional building methods when it comes to sustainability, offering maximized strength and durability. Centinel delivered the first hotel in the U.S. constructed using CLT: Candlewood Suites on Redstone Arsenal. 

The April 14 event also gave attendees a preview of the future Normandy House. Expected to be completed in fall 2026, this property will join IHG’s specially designed Historia Collection™, consisting of carefully preserved buildings of great historic importance to the Army. Built in 1935, Normandy House is the oldest surviving Bachelor Officers Quarters on post and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. 

“The opening of the new Candlewood Suites on Fort Bragg and the continued restoration of Normandy House demonstrate Centinel’s commitment to providing high-quality lodging that meets the evolving needs of service members, their families and guests,” said Matthew Garrett, Centinel executive vice president, Asset Management. “Since 2013, we have been honored to support the military community at Fort Bragg, one of the largest U.S. Army installations by population. We are proud to play a role in preserving Fort Bragg’s history while enhancing the guest experience for the more than 100,000 travelers who visit each year, including active service members and families awaiting permanent housing, military personnel visiting for training and more.” 

Founded in 2009, the PAL program is a partnership between the Army and private industry to improve the quality of on-post lodging. Centinel and IHG have served as the Department of Defense’s exclusive PAL partners since the program’s founding, with Centinel as the owner, developer, design-builder and asset manager and IHG as the hotel operator and manager for the national PAL portfolio.  

“The PAL program continues to prove its value by delivering consistent, high-quality lodging across Army installations and joint bases,” said Chuck Sourbeer, vice president of Operations at IHG Army Hotels. “Through IHG’s commitment to deliver True Hospitality, we are able to create a modern guest experience designed to support the unique needs of military life, from training missions to relocation stays. This brand-new Candlewood Suites on Fort Bragg and the continued renovation of Normandy House are designed to provide all the amenities and comfort our guests need and deserve.”   

“This marks another milestone in Fort Bragg’s decade-long partnership between Centinel, IHG Army Hotels and the Privatization of Army Lodging program,” said Fort Bragg garrison commander Col. K. Chad Mixon. “This is a big deal for us because taking care of soldiers is near and dear to my heart. This new Candlewood Suites reflects our commitment to providing modern, comfortable on-post lodging for soldiers, their families and government travelers who support the mission. It also reflects Fort Bragg’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of life on-post—offering a convenient and dependable lodging option for service members and families.” 

To learn more about Centinel and view recent milestones, including media assets from the Fort Bragg renovations, visit CentinelUS.com. For more information about IHG Army Hotels and its military lodging portfolio, please visit www.IHGArmyHotels.com.   

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Media Contacts: 

Julia Stough   
MP&F Strategic Communications   
(615) 259-4000   
jstough@mpf.com   

Drew Baker  

Specialist, Corporate Communications, The Americas, IHG Hotels & Resorts  

Drew.baker@ihg.com 

About Centinel Public Partnerships 

Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Centinel Public Partnerships is dedicated to enhancing the lives of U.S. military members and their families through its high-quality housing and lodging communities. With a portfolio of 10 housing communities and over 70 hotels across 26 states and Puerto Rico, Centinel’s leadership team brings nearly 25 years of experience to one of the largest military housing privatization portfolios in the United States. Through its established partnerships with WinnResidential Military Housing Services and IHG® Hotels & Resorts, hotel operator and manager of IHG Army Hotels, Centinel provides exceptional communities and lodging experiences for service members and their families.   

About IHG® Hotels & Resorts 

IHG Hotels & Resorts (tickers: LON: IHG for Ordinary Shares; NYSE: IHG for ADRs) is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good. 

With a family of 21 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes with over 160 million members, IHG has more than 1 million rooms across 6,963 open hotels in over 100 countries, and a development pipeline of a further 2,300 properties. 

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 400,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally. 

Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG One Rewards. To download the IHG One Rewards app, visit the Apple App or Google Play stores. 

For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn. 

IHG® Army Hotels 

IHG Army Hotels operates and manages a portfolio of hotels located in 40 U.S. military installations. With a portfolio spanning more than 13,000 rooms, IHG Army Hotels offers all the conveniences of off-post hotels, as well as features and amenities specifically designed for military travelers, and welcomes all members of the military and their families, as well as civilians. For more information, visit www.IHGArmyHotels.com. 
 

Chief Commercial Officer Kevin Davis is responsible for Centinel’s commercial services, including transactions, operations and government relations. He also oversees risk and compliance, along with leadership of Environment, Health and Safety, and Marketing and Public Affairs. Kevin spent 18 years with Lendlease in senior business development, commercial and legal roles, following earlier experience in private law practice and service in the U.S. Air Force.

With nearly two decades of experience in marketing and communications, Meryl Exley leads Centinel’s brand, communications and public affairs strategy as Executive Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs. She oversees corporate communications, client and customer engagement, public relations, media, and crisis management, strengthening the company’s reputation and community connections. Before Centinel, Meryl held senior marketing leadership roles at Lendlease, where she advanced growth and visibility for its military housing and lodging platform.

Matthew Garrett is Executive Vice President responsible for Centinel’s Air Force Housing and Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolios. He directs operations and strategic initiatives across both programs. Before joining Centinel, Matt held senior leadership roles at Lendlease, where he expanded its student housing platform and managed a military housing portfolio of more than 40,000 homes. He also led federal lobbying and outreach efforts, engaging with congressional and Department of Defense stakeholders. Earlier in his career, Matt served as a U.S. Army officer, earning a Bronze Star for Valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Leading Centinel’s legal, compliance and governance functions, Heather Niemeyer provides strategic counsel to support growth and manage risk across the portfolio. She brings more than 15 years of experience advising global organizations, including senior legal roles at Lendlease and earlier practice with two international law firms.

As Centinel’s Chief Financial Officer, Jeremy Martin is responsible for financial strategy, operations and reporting, guiding the company’s long-term growth and performance. He has more than 20 years of experience in corporate and real estate finance, with expertise in financial planning, compliance and risk management. Jeremy served as CFO for Lendlease (US) Public Partnerships Holdings LLC prior to the company’s acquisition by Centinel, where he directed financial operations for Lendlease Communities.

Gretchen Turpen serves as Executive Vice President, Asset Management, where she directs operations and asset, property and development management for Centinel’s Army housing portfolio of more than 25,000 homes. In this role, she leads corporate strategy, financial performance, and client and customer relationships. Previously, Gretchen was Head of Lodging, where she delivered the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program including the renovation of over 12,000 hotel rooms across 40 military installations nationwide.

In his role as President, Phillip Carpenter guides operations for Centinel’s Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) and Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolios. He is responsible for property management, asset management, development, construction, and environmental health and safety. With more than 40 years of experience supporting the Department of Defense, Phillip has held senior leadership positions with Lendlease and J&J Worldwide Services, bringing expertise in real estate, development and facilities management. 

Justin Kern, Chief Executive Officer of Centinel, sets the company’s strategic direction with a focus on long-term sustainment and outcomes for customers, partners and employees. He has more than 20 years of leadership in real estate finance, construction and operations. Prior to Centinel, Justin served as President and CEO of Lendlease (US) Public Partnerships Holdings LLC, where he oversaw asset management, property management and development for military housing and lodging communities.