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.
