John Q. Hammons Opens Embassy Suites in Huntsville, AL
SPRINGFIELD, MO, November 3, 3006. Mr. John Q. Hammons and the city of Huntsville, Ala., yesterday evening celebrated the opening of the new $40-million, 295-suite Embassy Suites Hotel(R) (www.embassysuiteshuntsville.com) located in downtown Huntsville's cultural and entertainment district. The 10-story, contemporary Embassy Suites Hotel adjoins the city's 150,000-square-foot Von Braun Center via a climate-controlled sky bridge and doubles the amount of available rooms in downtown. The Embassy Suites Hotel - Huntsville is owned by Mr. John Q. Hammons and managed by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, LLC, the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites (www.jqhhotels.com).
More than 300 honored guests and friends attended the official ribbon-cutting celebration at the hotel. Additionally, the nearby John Q. Hammons Bridge was dedicated in honor of the hotel's legendary owner. Remarks were provided by Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer, the hotel's first official guest; Chamber President Dave Hargrove; Mr. John Q. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, LLC; and Mr. Tim Lewen, general manager of the Embassy Suites Hotel - Huntsville.
Initial group business sales for the Embassy Suites Hotel - Huntsville already surpass $2 million. Among the larger groups booked are the Alabama League of Municipalities and the Southern Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials. Overall, the Embassy Suites Hotel - Huntsville is expected to generate approximately $15 million to Huntville's economy annually.
A sampling of features of the upscale hotel include 7,800 square feet of meeting space, a spa, coffee house and an on-site Ruth's Chris Steak House, which specializes in USDA Prime grade steaks and a New Orleans-inspired menu. Ruth's Chris is also the official food and beverage provider for the events and in-room dining at the hotel.
"Growth in the city's national defense and manufacturing sectors has helped Huntsville become one of the best places to work and live in the country. We built a hotel that could be regarded as a community centerpiece and serve as a testament to the area's socioeconomic success," Mr. Hammons said.
The Embassy Suites Hotel - Huntsville is Mr. Hammons' second hotel to be built in Alabama, complementing the company's portfolio of 70 hotels known for quality. Conveniently located just 15 minutes from the Huntsville International Airport at the intersection of I-565 and Memorial Parkway South, the new hotel provides easy access for both business and leisure travelers.
"We appreciate the city's warm reception with the hotel's debut and throughout the building process," Mr. Lewen said. "We look forward to returning exceptional hospitality for many years to come."
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