Veterans Day is extra special for us at IHG® Army Hotels. It’s a time to honor the brave men and women who’ve served and celebrate the ones we’ve called guests and colleagues. Since the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL), we’ve been a major part of the military community, providing our guests a better stay and improving the lives of service members and their families.
Guests who stay with us enjoy the same amenities they would find at our hotels off post, including complimentary hot breakfast, free high-speed internet, guest laundry facilities, and pet-friendly accommodations. Plus, members earn valuable IHG One Rewards points for each stay. To date, we’ve awarded our guests more than 8 billion points! That equals an average of 305,000 reward nights at any of more than 6,000 IHG Hotels & Resorts globally.*
We’re proud of our reputation for providing exceptional hospitality, which is reflected in our guest satisfaction survey scores. Nearly 70% of our guests have awarded us 5 stars out of 5, and veterans are a major part our success. They, along with military spouses and retirees make up 25% of our colleagues. They understand better than anyone else what it means to serve, and because of that, they can connect with our guests on a more personal level. Whether military families are traveling for PCS, business or leisure, they’re in great hands. For veterans transitioning to civilian life, we offer a variety of careers at IHG and we encourage them to explore opportunities by visiting https://careers.ihg.com/en/veterans/.
We’re also dedicated to supporting and developing the next generation of colleagues through our Teen Academy program. IHG Army Hotels offers this paid summer internship to the dependents of our hotel team members and the dependents of military personnel living on post. For eight weeks, participants in Teen Academy work in several jobs, including housekeeper, laundry assistant, and breakfast attendant. It’s a great way for teens to gain valuable work experience while learning about different aspects of the hospitality industry.
Privatization has also benefited the Army itself. Each year, the PAL program saves the Army $70 million, with more than $4 billion in savings over the life of the program. The program is self-sufficient; for every $100 we receive, $43 is reinvested into our hotels—with more than $5 billion to be reinvested over the next 50 years. This reinvestment is what makes it possible to continually renovate our hotels to reflect the strictest brand standards set by IHG, as well as to provide newly-constructed hotels at many locations, such as Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites hotels.
For 16 years, it’s been an honor to serve those who serve. We’re proud to make such a positive impact in the military community, because to us, every day is like Veterans Day.
*Reward nights available only at off-post hotels.
