June 27, 2012--An Oklahoma-based development company has announced plans to build new extended stay hotels in both Dodge City and Garden City.

Plains Management Group of Oklahoma City expects to break ground on both properties in the next 60 to 90 days, with each 121-suite property targeted for opening by the end of 2013.

Each four-story wood-frame TownePlace Suites will be under the Marriott franchise, according to managing partner Ryan Slater.

Plains Management hired Dixon, Illinois-based HDI Hotels Corporation to provide comprehensive construction services, Slater said. The estimated combined cost for both projects, including land and furnishings, is $18 million. An Oklahoma City bank is financing the project.

"It works like a hotel, however, the room is set up for a more extended stay," Slater said. "It has a fully equipped kitchenette and a refrigerator. We'll take someone for one night, but it's targeted for something like a seven-night-plus stay."

The properties in both towns, at 61,430 feet, will have a similar layout and design. In Dodge City it will be on 3.1 acres on 10880 W. Wyatt Earp Blvd., just down the road from the Boot Hill Casino. The Garden City location will be on 4.2 acres on the south side of Kansas Avenue at Jennie Barker Rd., next to the local Walmart.

Both Dodge City and Garden City approved property rezonings last week. The company hasn't decided which property will see construction first, but both should start going up within about a month of each other, Slater said.

"We're very excited about the market," Slater said. "Both are around the 30,000-person population, and neither (community) has an extended stay or Marriott location."

The Dodge City casino provides a ready market, but that was not the target of the development, Slater said.

"There's also a lot of oil and gas activity going on, but we're not speculating on that," he said. "It was amazing to us when we went to both Garden City and Dodge City that there wasn't extended stay... It was kind of one of those 'aha' moments. And when we thought about how to bring it to the market, we also wanted to bring the best quality to the market. That's how we landed on the Marriott chain."

The Marriott chain generally caters to a more "mid-priced market" than its more upscale sister brand, Residence Inn, Slater said.

"These are 121-room hotels, of all suites," Slater said. "To put it in perspective, the next biggest thing in Garden City has 109 rooms. We're pushing it a little bit in both markets, but they'll both be great projects."

Each TownePlace Suites will offer studio, 1 and 2-bedroom residential-style suites, with about 80 percent studios and the rest larger suites of 323 to 509 square feet.

Other planned features will include complimentary high-speed Internet access and guest remote printing; a 24-hour complimentary business center; a fitness center; an outdoor swimming pool and grill area; guest laundry facility; a convenient 24/7 food/beverage pantry and free Corner Cup coffee.

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