Press Release
December 1, 2000
LANSDALE, PA -- Hilton Hotels Corporation yesterday announced that it has broken ground on the 146-suite Lansdale
Homewood Suites® by Hilton in Lansdale, Pa.
Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels target guests staying for five nights or more who prefer upscale, all-suite, residential-style
lodging. The facility is expected to open in fall 2001. When construction is completed, the Lansdale property will
be the fourth Homewood Suites by Hilton in the state and among more than 100 nationwide.
The Homewood Suites by Hilton Lansdale is owned by an affiliate of Wayne, Pa.-based Gulph Creek Hotels, which owns
and operates five hotels, including three Hampton Inn hotels and one Hampton Inn & Suites, all in the Philadelphia
area. Construction financing was provided by First Union National Bank. This is the sixth hotel that Gulph Creek
Hotels has developed or acquired in the Philadelphia area in the past five years.
``The need for hotels that cater to guests staying five or more consecutive nights greatly exceeds the available
supply,'' said Clarke Blynn, president of Gulph Creek Hotels. ``Our new facility is being created specifically
to meet the special needs of extended-stay travelers, in this case, the Merk Company's training needs, who stay
at a property for extended amounts of time. We will offer spacious, residential-style suites with fully equipped
kitchens and separate sleeping and living areas that are large enough for work, study, entertaining or relaxing.''
``Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels have a home-like atmosphere that appeals to business travelers who stay for
a few nights or a few weeks, as well as families vacationing with children and weekend travelers seeking a get-away
retreat,'' added Blynn.
Guests enjoy a complimentary breakfast buffet in the property's hospitality center, called the ``Lodge,'' an evening
manager's reception Monday through Thursday with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and beverages, an executive business
center, exercise facilities and a convenience store.
Located at 1180 Church Road, the six-story hotel will be located adjacent to Merck Company's new training center
in Lansdale, which opened in August and already is operating near capacity. The Homewood Suites by Hilton is part
of a larger mixed-use development, Pennbrook Corporate Center, which is being developed by Progress Development.
In addition to the hotel, a 40,000 square-foot office building is under construction at the center.
Hotel amenities will include an outdoor pool, whirlpool, on-demand videos, exercise room, executive business center,
outdoor terraced rock garden and 1,200 square feet of meeting space. Each suite of the hotel will have a fully
equipped kitchen, featuring a microwave oven, refrigerator with ice-maker, twin-burner stove, dishwasher and all
the necessary pots, pans and utensils. Additionally, suites contain two remote-controlled televisions, a videocassette
player, ceiling fans, an iron/ironing board, two telephones with two lines and data ports, and free local calls.
Homewood Suites by Hilton is a subsidiary of Hilton Hotels Corporation, recognized internationally as a preeminent
hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises more than 1,800 hotels, resorts, and vacation
ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the industry's best known and most highly regarded hotel brands,
including Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Harrison Conference
Centers, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Red Lion Hotels & Inns, and Conrad International.
The following service marks are owned by Hilton Hospitality, Inc.: Hilton®, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites
Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Homewood Suites® by Hilton, Red Lion Hotels &
Inns® and Conrad International®.
Lansdale Homewood Suites® by Hilton
Fact Sheet for Groundbreaking
Hotel Address: 1180 Church Road, Lansdale, PA 19446
Nearby Attractions: Located adjacent to the newly opened Merck
Company's training center. Accommodations (number of suites): 146
Owner: Gulph Creek Hotels
Owner's Direct Phone Line: 610-687-9280
Hotel management company: Gulph Creek Hotels
Hotel Amenities
-- Complimentary breakfast buffet each morning
-- Evening managers reception with complimentary hors d'oeuvres
and beverages
-- Outdoor swimming pool and state-of-the-art exercise facilities
-- 24-hour executive business center
-- 1,200 square feet of meeting space
-- Guest laundry
-- 24-hour Suite Shop convenience store
-- Outdoor rock garden and terrace
-- Complimentary grocery shopping service
-- The "Lodge"--a homelike setting in which to relax, complete
with comfortable chairs and a fireplace
Suite Amenities
-- Studio, one- and two-bedroom suites with separate living and
sleeping areas
-- Two remote controlled televisions and video cassette players
-- Two telephones with two-lines and data ports
-- Free local calls
-- Fully equipped kitchen with microwave, refrigerator with ice
maker, coffee maker, twin-burner stove, dishwasher and all the
necessary pots, pans and utensils
To make reservations at any Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel or to
request a free national directory, guests may access hotel information
on the worldwide web at www.homewood-suites.com, or call the toll-free
national reservation number, 1-800-CALL-HOME (1-800-225-5466). A
special toll-free reservation number also is available for
hearing-impaired guests, 1-800-451-HTDD.
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Contact:
Hilton Brand Communications
Kendra Walker, 310/205-4545
Melissa O'Brien/Laschandra Diggs
901/374-5534
or
Daly Gray Public Relations
Chris Daly, 703/435-6293