With InterContinental Hotels Group’s recent focus on the relaunch of Holiday Inn and now the repositioning of Crowne Plaza, the company’s extended-stay brands have flown beneath the radar, but both Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites continue to evolve and grow.

Although the vast majority of the Staybridge Suites portfolio is in the Americas — 190 out of 195 hotels — the recent success in Europe and the Middle East has precipitated an updated brand identity. Rob Radomski, IHG’s vice president of global brand management for the two extended-stay brands, says the new soothing color palettes and textures, the new hallmark names and features and Staybridge Suites’ overall tone has been modified to bring together the brand across what used to be separate operating regions.

Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites are testing an "Out and About" board that staff would use for food and fun recommendations and local event listings. The idea is extended-stay guests would appreciate this, and even offer their own additions.

With the interior design schemes created by graduate students at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) now available and being implemented, the brand has also tweaked two of its staples. The evening reception formerly called the Sundowner will soon become The Social, and include a new rotating menu of small-plate entrees paired with signature salads — flatbread pizzas, sliders, baked potatoes with Greek, Cobb or Chef salads, for example.

“It’s a fresher offering and very flexible,” Radomski explains. The Social and new menu are being piloted at approximately 15 hotels and will likely be rolled out across the chain in early 2012. The other hallmark change is The Bridgemart store will become The Pantry, to “make it more personal and better reflect what it is,” says Radomski.

Both Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites are in the process of testing an “Out and About” board. Basically a bulletin board in the lobby for staff picks on food, fun and local events, the idea is extended-stay guests will appreciate and even contribute to it.

Candlewood Suites, IHG’s midscale extended-stay offering, also has new interior schemes designed by SCAD. Fifty-eight of the 300-hotel chain entirely in the Americas will be refurbished using the new looks over the next eight months. The portfolio of 58 is owned by Hospitality Properties Trust, which also has eight Staybridge Suites being renovated with SCAD designs.

Candlewood Suites is testing the concept of a Lending Locker to offer guests the ability to borrow small appliances using the honor system.

Candlewood also is working on an extension to its popular Candlewood Cupboard, the mini-convenient store concept that allows guests to purchase snacks and sundries on the honor system. The new Lending Locker will be a cabinet filled with items like a desk lamp, rice cooker, coffee grinder, fan and more that guests can borrow and then return when they’re finished using them. A pilot test at a handful of properties is currently underway before expanding to another eight or so properties. Radomski says it could be rolled out across the chain by late 2012 or early 2013.

In addition to the innovations, the brands both recently reported strong third-quarter results, besting their competitive set in RevPAR growth, Radomski says. Staybridge Suites’ year-to-date RevPAR is $73.32 (ADR $96.39, occupancy 76.1%) and Candlewood Suites’ RevPAR is $48.92 (ADR $66.26, occupancy 73.8%).

“We are starting to see some rate growth, which has been the most difficult thing for the industry,” says Radomski, adding that the wave of renovations across both chains will provide more of an opportunity to drive rate.

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