SpringHill Suites unveiled its boutique-inspired contemporary redesign with the opening of a 120-room hotel in Waukegan, IL. Concord Hospitality Enterprises, minority owner and operator of the SpringHill Suites Chicago Waukegan/Gurnee, and Marriott co-designed the new look featuring a fluid lobby with custom lighting, music, moveable soft walls and changeable graphic panels used to create to distinctive and different environments throughout the day. The large guestrooms include a 32-inch flat-panel TV; a sectional sofa with foldout double bed; a kitchen area with a mini-fridge, microwave and coffee maker; and separate bathroom and shower areas accessed by sliding doors.

“The SpringHill Suites is at the forefront of contemporary hotel design,” says Mark Laport, Concord's president and CEO. “It represents the next generation of hotels, created to deliver the experience the next generation of travelers is looking for.”

Concord, which also partnered with Starwood to design the new aloft brand, already has broken ground in Texas on four additional SpringHill Suites, all expected to open next year.

Marriott introduced SpringHill Suites' new look in January 2007 at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit. The goal was to distinguish the brand from the growing lifestyle segment. The brand was launched in 1998 and has 187 locations worldwide.