Sumner Suites Part of 27 Property Acquisition, Re-Branding by Prime Hospitality

A former Sumner Suites hotel in north Austin is one of 27 properties in 12 states being re-branded. Also in Texas are three Dallas-area hotels in Grand Prairie and Las Colinas/Walnut Hill north; two in San Antonio's Crossroads Mall Riverwalk market; and one each in the El Paso airport submarket and Houston's Hobby Airport. The re-branding represents a 30% expansion for the chain. The portfolio now consists of 132 AmeriSuites in 31 states.

Sholodge Inc. has recently completed the hotels. Prime has acquired the leaseholds, which are about three years of age on average. The planned conversion has occurred on schedule, says Steve Kronick, AmeriSuites senior vice president of operations.Minimal renovations and service packages have been required to make the properties conform to AmeriSuites' offerings.

The Sholodge-Prime transaction delivers three future developments to the builder's pipeline. Sholodge will be constructing AmeriSuites in Mt. Laurel, NJ, Utica, MI and Sterling, VA. Sholodge will finance two projects and Prime, one.

Prime Hospitality Corp. owns, manages, develops and franchises more than 230 hotels nationwide. It operates under the proprietary brands of AmeriSuites and Wellesley Inns & Suites. The hotelier also holds franchise deals with Hilton, Radisson, Sheraton, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Ramada.