May 06--Bowling Green is 10 days to two weeks away from getting a new hotel property when the $11 million TownePlace Suites by Marriott should be open for business.

"We really already have about 99 percent of the (furnishings and finishes) done, but I want everything to be perfect before we open," said Jeff Anderson, owner of Anderson Hospitality Group, which has the management contract for this property and the Hilton Garden Inn, both owned by Bowling Green developer David Chandler.

Anderson expects to open by May 19 or possibly a few days earlier.

Anderson has more than two decades in management for Hilton Hotels, and he has known Chandler since they were fraternity brothers at Western Kentucky University.

"What makes it for me ... is Jeff and his 25 years of experience with Hilton," Chandler said. "He is a hospitality guru and that makes for a good partnership for me. It will be interesting to see how this property does."

Anderson believes it will be attractive because of its location: people who are staying in town for an extended period of time want to be near restaurants and shopping. The property is adjacent to Greenwood Mall off Cave Mill Road, close to grocery stores, and also close to the interstate. The hotel is part of other properties Chandler has developed in Chandler Park, including apartments and an assisted living facility. There also are new luxury apartments under construction adjacent to TownePlace. There still is some nearby undeveloped property fronting Cave Mill Road, for which Chandler is in discussions with two "food possibilities."

The four-floor property has 101 rooms, ranging from a king studio to a two-bedroom suite, all with kitchens. There are two meeting rooms, an indoor pool, exercise room, guest laundry, small gathering space and a breakfast bar area, as well as an outdoor patio and grill. Guests will receive complimentary breakfast each day.

In the lobby, a large map of Bowling Green with landmarks greets guests as wall art. The breakfast bar area features Bowling Green posters and photographs taken in the area. One of the floors has photographs of the iconic Corvette on the walls. Anderson said it was important to connect the property to Bowling Green and make it feel more residential.

Anderson expects the property to be popular for people coming to Bowling Green for jobs -- they can stay at the property while searching for a home. It also may attract people coming to town for extended training sessions or other business-related travel. Construction crews in town for an extended stay to work on a project also are potential customers.

Room rates vary greatly depending on room size, length of stay and whether it is a weekday or weekend stay. A weekend stay in June, for example, would range from $94 to $134. A weekday stay in June would range from $119 to $149. Stays of more than three nights have reduced prices.

While extended-stay customers are the intended target for the property, Anderson said, "we would be happy with any and all business."

Anderson said the hotel will open with 20 employees, nearly all of whom are full time, including general manager Jenna Smith. A few more people may be hired once the property is established.

Both Anderson and Chandler expect to open more properties together.

"We're interested in doing one more in the Bowling Green area," Chandler said. "We've got the rights to the Fairfield Inn franchise. That is a great Marriott product."

There previously was a Fairfield Inn in Bowling Green, but the owners at the time decided not to renew the brand. It is now a non-branded property near Cracker Barrel.

"Marriott has given us a long lead time on using the franchise," Chandler said. "They wanted to give us time to get this one up and going. But we would probably be looking at starting construction in 2014."

Chandler and Anderson also are interested in building hotels in other cities, Chandler said. Chandler Properties has large commercial real estate holdings in Nashville, Memphis, Tenn., Mobile, Ala., Birmingham, Ala., Raleigh, N.C., and Atlanta.

"We wouldn't necessarily build a hotel in those cities ... . We would would want it to be the best possible hotel site," Chandler said. "But it wouldn't hurt our feelings if it were in one of those cities."

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