Two projects, totaling 132 rooms, will break ground later thisyear and another 200 to 300 will come on line within threeyears.

Cohen Hospitality Group LP of El Paso will build and manage a92-room Candlewood Suites. The hotel will be built on slightly morethan two acres at US Hwy. 54 and Cohen Avenue on the far north sideof town. Another El Paso developer will take on the task ofbuilding and managing a 120-room Candlewood Suites, which will beset on three acres at Sunland Park and Futurity drives in theborder city of Sunland Park, NM. Both projects, set for completionin fourth quarter 2009, will cost slightly more than $10 million todevelop.

Gregory Aden, InterContinental Hotels Group's regional directorof franchise sales and development, tells GlobeSt.com that a thirdCandlewood Suites is being planned for the area although a specificgroundbreaking hasn't been designated. He says the city could endup with four over the long term "with the emphasis on developingand franchising."