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Centinel Public Partnerships and IHG Hotels & Resorts Selected as Partners for U.S. Air Force Lodging 

On-base lodging across U.S. installations to transition in a phased approach to commercial ownership and operation 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 19, 2026) – Centinel Public Partnerships LLC (Centinel) and IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) have been selected by the Department of the Air Force (DAF) as its commercial partners to own, develop and manage on-base lodging across U.S. Air Force installations in execution of a 50-year agreement. 

A top provider of privatized military housing and lodging, Centinel will serve as the owner, property developer, builder and asset manager. IHG, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, will act as hotel and management operator. Together, Centinel and IHG will elevate on-base lodging accommodations to better meet the needs of today’s military and support mission-readiness by providing high-quality hospitality to service members, families and other official travelers. 

According to the DAF, agreement finalization and operational transfer to Centinel and IHG are anticipated to be completed by Fall 2027. This phased approach, beginning with 23 installations across the U.S. and its territories, ensures continuous lodging operations and minimizes disruptions for travelers. 

Centinel brings more than two decades of proven performance in owning, developing, constructing and managing housing and hospitality assets across United States Army, Air Force and Space Force installations. Complementing this expertise, IHG Hotels provides global scale and specialized military lodging capabilities, delivering best-in-class operational standards and guest experience. 

Centinel and IHG have worked together to serve military communities through the Privatization of Army Lodging program since 2009, with a portfolio of 70-plus hotels and 12,000-plus hotel rooms across 40 installations.  

Justin Kern, Chief Executive Officer, Centinel Public Partnerships said: “We are humbled and honored by the trust the Department of the Air Force has placed in us to help modernize and manage on-base lodging in support of service members and their families. This partnership reflects the strength of collaboration—bringing together the Air Force, Centinel and IHG to deliver high-quality, mission-critical hospitality solutions. With more than two decades of experience serving military communities and a proven track record working alongside IHG on the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolio, we are committed to operational excellence at every installation. Together, we will build on the foundation to create and manage lodging that not only meets evolving needs but fosters a sense of community and enhances quality of life for those who serve. 

Elie Maalouf, Chief Executive Officer, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We’re deeply honored to have the opportunity to work with the Department of the Air Force to bring the familiar comforts of our brands to U.S. Air Force bases. Our experience of hosting members of the military and their families across our IHG Army Hotels portfolio has given us profound understanding and respect for their needs. We are looking forward to supporting the Air Force community and continuing to proudly serve those who serve.”    

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Media Contacts: 

Centinel

Julia Stough, jstough@mpf.com  

IHG

Karen Cole, Karen.Cole@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. Centinel’s leadership team brings nearly 25 years of experience to one of the largest military housing and lodging privatization portfolios in the United States, serving nearly 3.8 million military personnel, families and guests annually. 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. For more information, visit CentinelUS.com.   

About IHG® Hotels & Resorts 

IHG Hotels & Resorts 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 one million rooms across 7,000 hotels in over 100 countries, and a development pipeline of a further 2,300 properties.  

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. 

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.