Exit 13A is one of two that directly link to NewarkInternational Airport, the busiest of the tri-state region's threemajor airports and the 10th busiest in the country. Throw in themassive new 200-store Jersey Gardens Mall, the IKEA-anchoredElizabeth Center and a variety of other commercial projects and thedemand for hotel rooms has exploded.

Several major hotel operators have heard the call. If all eightactive projects come to fruition, 13A will have almost 4,000 rooms,the largest concentration anywhere in the Garden State outside ofAtlantic City.

Among the latest proposals is one by IKEA Urban GeneralPartners, an IKEA subsidiary headed by James Gdula, for a packageof three hotels totaling 600 rooms on 10 acres next to theElizabeth Center/IKEA retail site. Gdula says he's negotiating withseveral national hotel chains he declines to name.