WICHITA, KS—As reported in GlobeSt.com, ValuePlace, the low-cost extended-stay hotel chain, hasundergone profound changes in the past year-and-a-half. It secureda $100 million capital investment, hired a new leadership team, and began launching new locations across the US. Its latestproject, a new 124-room Value Place in Watford City, ND, justopened and is its third hotel in the oil-rich Bakkenregion of North Dakota. And Bruce Haase, thecompany's new chief executive officer, tells GlobeSt.com that evenmore hotels may open in the Bakken, and that the company is readyto begin the next phase of its national expansion.

“We're actively looking in the shale oil area in North Dakota,”Haase says. “I definitely think there are possibilities.” And oftheir first three efforts, he adds, “the rates are high and therooms are full.”

But North Dakota is only one rich region, and the Wichita-basedcompany has cast its eyes on markets throughout the country. Mostof the facilities recently opened were corporate-owned, but fromnow on, the company will begin opening up an even greater number offranchise operations.