Elliott Lodging opens Candlewood Suites early

The 43,000-square-foot facility was built by Osage Beach general contractor Thomas Construction Co., with design work by Slone Architects Inc., Anderson Engineering Inc., Edelman Engineering and Crocker Consulting Engineers Inc.

Candlewood Suites features 83 suites, each with full kitchens, Elliott Lodging marketing director Jonathan Rimington told Springfield Business Journal in late 2007. The estimated construction cost was $4 million, financed by Great Southern Bank.

The hotel features the Candlewood Cupboard, an on-site convenience store, an outdoor gazebo and grill area, fitness center, business center, meeting space and an in-house video lending library, according to a company news release.

Located at 1035 E. Republic Road, across from the main entrance of Twin Oaks Country Club, Candlewood Suites is situated to serve the expanding business base in that area, Elliott Lodging President Gordon Elliott said in the release.

Elliott is optimistic about the new property, despite what seems to be a period of slowing economic growth.

“Conventional wisdom says that the hotel and tourism industry tends to grow when the dollar weakens,” he said in the release. “It keeps our tourists spending their dollars in our country and invites tourism from overseas. That is good for our economy, and business continues to grow in our diversified local economy.”

Candlewood Suites is a franchise of InterContinental Hotels Group. Elliott Lodging also operates national brands Best Western and Baymont, and local brands Lamplighter Inn, Eagle’s Lodge and Arbor Suites at the Mall.

See SBJ’s April 7 issue for more tourism news in In Focus: Travel & Tourism.