Actus Lend Lease, part of Lend Lease Corp. Ltd., was chosen inSeptember 2006 to acquire, finance, design, develop, operate andown the hotels. The total project, valued at more than $2.4billion, involves construction and renovation of at least 45hotels.

The hotel contract is a first for the Army, which is underfundedon capital repairs and maintenance, and for Actus Lend Lease, whichhas been a frequent developer of family housing on military basesfor years. Actus Lend Lease will work with InterContinental HotelsGroup to operate and manage the Army hotels.

"Never before has the Army partnered on such a wide scale withprivate sector firms to construct, renovate, maintain, operate andmanage hotels on military installations," Dale Connor, Actus LendLease managing director, stated in a release. He added that the PALprogram will provide superior hospitality services and facilitiesfor soldiers and their families, as well as government personnelvisiting bases.