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Centinel and IHG Army Hotels Celebrate Completion of $8 Million Renovation of Fort Johnson’s Holiday Inn Express Hotels

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Centinel Public Partnerships and IHG® Army Hotels have announced the completion of $8 million in renovations to the Holiday Inn Express® hotels at Fort Johnson in Vernon Parish, La. The extensive updates to Magnolia House and Cypress Inn mark the latest milestone in the U.S. Army’s Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program, which began at Fort Johnson in 2009. 

As the first installation with PAL hotels to undergo a full rebranding and renovation into a Holiday Inn Express, Fort Johnson continues to demonstrate the long-term value and impact of the program. 

Centinel is the exclusive Army partner for PAL, with the program being the Department of Defense’s only lodging privatization project. In partnership, IHG Army Hotels provides on-post accommodation under the trusted Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites brands.

The $8 million investment included comprehensive interior and exterior renovations to Magnolia House and Cypress Inn, along with updated room configurations designed to better support extended training stays and permanent change of station transitions. The renovations also brought the total room count to 98, expanding capacity to better meet the needs of service members and their families.

This latest investment builds on the PAL program’s legacy of success and follows other recent milestones and upgrades, including the delivery of the Candlewood Suites at Fort Eisenhower and the 16th Candlewood Suites developed through the program at Aberdeen Proving Ground. 

“Fort Johnson is where the PAL program began, and this latest development reaffirms our commitment to those who serve,” said Matthew Garrett, executive vice president at Centinel. “The PAL program isn’t a one-time investment; it’s a lasting promise to continuously enhance the lodging experience for service members and their families.”

With more than $1.3 billion in construction spend to date, the PAL program has transformed more than 12,000 hotel rooms across 40 Army installations. By leveraging private-sector funding and commercial hospitality standards, PAL eliminates the need for appropriated Army funds while improving the overall lodging experience through long-term sustainment and dedicated service. 

“The PAL program continues to prove its value by delivering consistent, high-quality lodging across Army installations,” said Chuck Sourbeer, vice president of Operations at IHG Army Hotels. “Through IHG’s hospitality expertise, we’re able to create a modern guest experience that supports the unique needs of military life, from training missions to relocation stays.”

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

Read the full release here.

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.