CHICAGO—Developer Holladay Properties and WoodSpring Suites, formerly Value Place, have just broken ground on the first WoodSpring Suites hotel in the region at 1093 Windham Parkway in suburban Romeoville. It's just the first of fifteen planned WoodSpring hotels that the partners plan for the metropolitan area, and just one portion of the extended-stay hotel chain's rapid expansion throughout the US. The companies broke ground on the project in a June 2 ceremony attended by officials from the Village of Romeoville including Mayor John Noak.

“Holladay Properties selected Romeoville as its first location of fifteen planned WoodSpring Suites in the greater Chicagoland area due to its strong business market and outstanding civic leadership,” says Tim Healy, senior vice president of Holladay. “Mayor Noak, the Village Board, and the entire planning department embraced our project and made us feel comfortable about investing in their community.”

As reported in GlobeSt.com, WoodSpring recently signed a long-term development contract with South Bend, IN-based Holladay to build the fifteen hotels over the next five years. The name change was also meant to facilitate growth by helping the Wichita, KS-based chain build its appeal among new segments of customers. Also as reported in GlobeSt.com, the company's transformation has been driven by new cadre of officials recruited over the past couple of years from other national brands.

“We see tremendous opportunities to grow our brand in major metropolitan markets across the country such as Chicago, particularly with our new branding and consumer positioning,” says Bruce Haase, the former executive for Choice Hotels International who last year became chief executive officer at WoodSpring. “We are excited about the progress we have made in growing nationally and are experiencing even greater momentum with the recent launch of our new brand.”

WoodSpring plans to open the hotel in April 2016. The new four-story, 116-room hotel will feature such guest amenities as in-room kitchens, free high-speed internet, and guest laundry facilities, and the 99-point cleaning process that the company provides to every guest.

“This hotel will be a big asset to a robust market and provide a great extended stay experience for both business and leisure travelers,” says Kyle Rogg, WoodSpring's chief operating officer. “We're excited for guests in Romeoville to find out what WoodSpring Suites hotels are all about.”

This past January, the company reported a 50.9% year-over-year increase in full-year revenues to $108.8 million. That came from a portfolio that included 82 corporate-owned properties and 108 franchises as of year-end 2014. The company now has 196 hotels located in 32 states.