John Q. Hammons to Develop Embassy Suites in Utah

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. October 14, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, MO, July 5, 2006. Mr. John Q. Hammons today announced his plans to develop a 10-story, 300-suite Embassy Suites Hotel(R) and adjoining 100,000-square-foot convention center in Pleasant Grove, Utah. The first development of its kind in the city, the hotel will be owned by Mr. Hammons, and the hotel and convention center will be managed by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, LLC, the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites.

The all-suite, luxury property and convention center are scheduled to open in Q1 2009, with construction slated to begin in spring of 2007. The convention center will include a 38,000-square-foot ballroom that seats up to 3,500 people, which also has the flexibility to be divided into 24 meeting rooms. Located in Utah County, the hotel and convention center will be the company's first development in the state of Utah.

"The booming lower Provo Utah Valley needs quality accommodations to complement the growth experienced by the cities of Pleasant Grove and the adjacent cities of Orem and Provo. The time is right to build a luxury, full-service facility, especially given the community's burgeoning new retail and business developments in the area," said Mr. John Q. Hammons, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, LLC. "We are confident we will exceed the cities' and our guests' expectations."

Combined, the hotel and convention center development span 50 acres at the base of Mount Timapanogos, offering panoramic mountain views from every angle. Conveniently located in the southeast quadrant of the intersection of I-15 and Pleasant Grove Boulevard, the hotel site is adjacent to a planned one million-square-foot lifestyle center.

The lifestyle center development is expected to be Utah County's most upscale shopping destination and will provide a mix of entertainment, restaurants and national and local retailers for the community and tourists of the area ski resorts. The anchor tenants have yet to be announced.

"We are honored that a developer of Mr. Hammons' caliber recognizes the potential of our city and is committed to helping us cultivate this ever-growing community," said Michael Daniels, mayor of Pleasant Grove. "Not only will the hotel and convention center provide first-class accommodations for local residents and leisure travelers, but it will allow our city to compete for more meetings and conventions business. The development is certain to provide phenomenal economic growth not only to the City of Pleasant Grove, but to the entire county."

Due to its short distance from major cities, including Salt Lake City (35 minutes) and the Salt Lake City International Airport (45 minutes), the hotel will be an ideal lodging choice for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel and convention center will also be easily accessible from Brigham Young University (12 minutes) and Utah Valley State College (five minutes), comprising a combined student population of more than 770,000. Additionally, the development is near major business hubs and popular ski destinations, such as Park City Ski area (45 minutes) and Sundance Ski area (30 minutes). Located nearby are several large corporate demand generators such as Novell, Nuskin, Altiris, Micron Technology and Sento Technical Innovations.

"Mr. Hammons is the leader in the industry and is known for developing award-winning properties, " said Dennis Baker, current owner of the land selected for the development of the hotel and convention center. "We are proud to be working with him, as his unmatched experience and proven track record for success have served as the strong foundation for creating an unbeatable end product, ultimately making a positive impact on the City of Pleasant Grove."