Suites feature at-home comforts

"It really is creating a home away from home." --- JIM RAMOS, Candlewood Suites general manager

By MICHAEL RYAN

The Capital-Journal

Candlewood Suites on Monday opened its unique traveling act --- comfortable extended stays.

The 80-room extended-stay hotel at Interstate 70 and S.W. Wanamaker, the 90th Candlewood Suites nationwide and the fifth in Kansas, caters to the business traveler because creator Jack DeBoer asked what business travelers wanted.

They didn't want a pool, and they didn't want to subsidize meeting rooms they don't use --- not when Candlewood suites are well- equipped for small meetings.

What they wanted, instead, was suites with TVs, VCRs and even CD players, a full kitchen that comes with kitchen utensils, oversized office desks, overstuffed recliners, two separate phone lines and more. The rooms include a full-size refrigerator, microwave, range and oven, and even a dishwasher.

But Candlewood set out to give travelers even more than they asked for.

There is a free videotape and CD library at the front desk, for example. There are washers and dryers --- free to use. There is a fitness room, but if that isn't good enough, they will give visitors complimentary day passes to area fitness centers.

Perhaps most unique is the Candlewood Cupboard --- made to make travelers feel at home while away from home. Visitors can, on the honor system, buy prepared foods or the makings for next morning's breakfast --- meaning one doesn't have to get dressed and leave the room and eat in front of everyone else at the hotel.

In addition to all the foods at grocery store prices, rather than convenience store prices, there are name-brand soda pops for 25 cents --- all on the honor system.

The message there, says Jim Korroch, of A.G. Hospitality Services Inc., the hotel's management company, is that Candlewood Suites isn't out to make a bunch of money on the traveler's every need --- rather, simply to fulfill them.

"It's like having someone in your home," added director of sales Brenda Guilfoyle.

One other unique twist at Candlewood Suites: housecleaning by appointment. Rather than knocking on every door every day, Candlewood's attendants are assigned one day a week to clean each suite, unless guests request otherwise. Thus, there is no need to tidy up all the time in case housecleaning is coming --- and no daily danger of being awakened unnecessarily.

"We're a true extended stay," said general manager Jim Ramos. "It really is creating a home away from home."

One other comforting touch that will go a long way: The shower controls are close enough that one doesn't have to lean under the showerhead to turn it on.

Oh, yes --- business travelers need to be productive as well as comfortable. So there are free local calls, long-distance at a constant 25 cents a minute, high-speed Internet standard equipment and a business center with fax and copying services, much of which is also complimentary.

Perhaps none of this innovation should come as a surprise: Candlewood creator DeBoer also founded Residence Inns and co-founded Summerfield Suites, essentially pioneering today's extended-stay concept.

Steve Sauder, of Emporia, owner of the Topeka Candlewood Suites, said he set out to build a hotel in Emporia and was introduced to the Candlewood concept by former Topekan Greg Kossover, who happened to work with DeBoer. Sauder started on the Emporia Candlewood, which opens this summer, before the Topeka hotel. But the Topeka location was so prime and so ready-to-build --- and the city was so eager to help --- that the Topeka property was able to open first.

"We've had great cooperation in Topeka," Sauder said. "We've been delighted with the response in Topeka."

See SUITES, page 3-C

Suites

--- Greg Lahann/The Capital-Journal

Copyright 2001
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