Leavenworth, KS – May 31, 2013 – Construction has begun on a 91-room, contemporarily-designed “Generation 4” Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in historic Leavenworth, Kan. The hotel, first in the area to carry the Marriott name, is located just outside Fort Leavenworth, home to the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, the Intellectual Center of the Army, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Scheduled to open in the spring of 2014, the Fairfield Inn & Suites will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Leavenworth Hotel Partners and Liberty, Mo.-based Ferguson Hotel Group. True North Hotel Group of Overland Park, Kan., will manage the hotel. General contractor is Prosser Wilbert Construction of Lenexa, Kan, and Generator Studio of Kansas City, Mo. is serving as architect.

Founded in 1854, Leavenworth was the first incorporated city in Kansas. Fort Leavenworth, the oldest active Army post west of the Mississippi, was established in 1827 by Colonel Henry Leavenworth.

Leavenworth Mayor Laura Gasbarre was joined at this week’s groundbreaking by City of Leavenworth officials and representatives of Ferguson Hotel Group, True North Hotel Group, Generator Studio and Prosser Wilbert Construction.

John Ferguson, president and founder of Ferguson Hotel Group, acknowledged the very positive local response to the new Fairfield Inn & Suites, adding that the property is among the first new-construction prototypes in the country to feature the brand’s innovative Generation 4 design and décor package.

Gary Bartek, economic development administrator for the City of Leavenworth, said, “The community is buzzing with anticipation for the first Marriott brand in the area.”

Tom Proebstle, Generator Studio’s co-founder and design director, said, “The hotel’s great new look will be a refreshing change in this market,” adding that the property will uniquely integrate local historical imagery in public spaces and guest rooms. “Given the tremendous amount of rich history in Leavenworth, we thought it would be important to share it with guests and locals who visit the hotel.”

About the new Fairfield Inn & Suites Generation 4 design
While Marriott’s Fairfield Inn brand this year celebrates its 25th anniversary, the new Generation 4 design forges a completely new direction into the next 25. From the moment guests arrive, they will be welcomed by modern, bright new design features, including an updated exterior with a signature tower, a curved porte-cochere and an inviting glass entrance that ushers them into the hotel. The hotel’s open public space design features natural light and views throughout the lobby to connect the indoors with the outdoors. Consistent with the Fairfield brand’s heritage of great service and a warm welcome, guests are greeted by associates who can easily move from behind the angled front desk to interact and answer questions.

The lobby area’s flexible design layout features a vibrant, natural color palette of greens, blues and oranges. The spacious lobby gives guests ample connectivity options, as well as a “connect and print” area that offers both standing and seated Internet stations. Guests can also unwind in the lobby’s inviting living area ― whose focal points include a natural stone hearth, organic-shaped sofa and lounge chair, and unique local features — or they can grab a drink or snack item from the 24/7 Corner Market.

The breakfast area’s signature farm table provides a central gathering place where guests can watch television, meet up with colleagues or get work done. In the morning, guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast featuring hot and healthy items.

The signature “smart” room décor warmly welcomes guests into a comfortable, productive and restful environment. Flexible and functional, guest rooms include a well-designed work area, an ergonomic chair and task lighting. A curved, mobile desk enables guests to create their own work space, while also optimizing their television viewing.

Inspired by nature, the hotel’s thoughtfully designed rooms and suites place the living and working area near the window to allow for more natural light and views. Building on this natural design, the room décor features organic patterns and fresh colors, blending wood tones with bright pops of color. The new design also places the sleeping area toward the middle of the room, helping to give guests a better night’s sleep on plush mattresses, as well as easier access to the bathroom and wardrobe. The bright, spacious living area also offers a comfortable couch, refrigerator, coffeemaker and, in suites, a microwave. The bath area continues the room’s bright, spacious, contemporary feel with showers in all standard king rooms and suites.

Additional hotel amenities include an indoor/outdoor swimming pool with a whirlpool spa, an exercise room, valet laundry service, complimentary Wi-Fi, as well as fax and copy services. The hotel also offers two sub-dividable conference rooms, totaling 1,300 square feet, that can accommodate up to 90 people.

About Ferguson Hotel Group
Ferguson Hotel Group is a division of Ferguson Properties, which was founded by John Ferguson in 1983 and today specializes in commercial development, brokerage and tenant representation. Ferguson Hotel Group owns and/or has developed hotels in Kansas, Missouri, Idaho, Virginia and Arizona.

About True North Hotel Group, Inc.
True North Hotel Group, headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., and owned by True North Family Trust and Richard Merkel, is an established leader in hotel management and development. True North has 21 extended stay and select-service hotels currently open, plus six more under construction or in the pipeline, within the Marriott, Hilton, Starwood and Holiday Inn brands. True North’s core value of superior service, both in its hotels and out in its communities,  has played a significant role in the company’s winning the Marriott Partnership Circle Award – the top accolade presented to Marriott International, Inc., owners and management companies – four times: in 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2012..