After having added 18 hotels to its military portfolio over the first months of 2013, InterContinental Hotels Group is strengthening its collaboration with the US army. The hotel group announced the IHG Army hotels network is going to expand through the opening of seven additional establishments, the first of which will be under the Staybridge Suites brand in the military base of Fort Belvoir. The openings will include four Candlewood Suite hotels before the end of 2013, and two Holiday Inn Express hotels in the beginning of 2014.Since 2009, the US army has looked to the private sector to operate and manage establishments for guests to its military bases. The Australian property developer Lend Lease is responsible for financing the renovations and new constructions, while the InterContinental group was chosen to manage the hotels under its Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge Suites brands. The IHG Army Hotels portfolio currently has 39 hotels for more than 11,000 rooms.