ST. LOUIS, MO (September 16, 2009) – Parents now have a comfortable, convenient place to stay while Ranken Jordan cares for their children.  Homewood Suites by Hilton - St. Louis Galleria and local owner Equis Hospitality Management are providing up to six free rooms every night of the year and complimentary, roundtrip shuttle service for families of Ranken Jordan patients.  Equis Hospitality Management and Ranken Jordan announced the partnership today at a celebration marking the opening of the new Homewood Suites, located at the corner of Clayton Road and Brentwood Boulevard.

“Ranken Jordan has found a true partner in Equis so we can provide excellent care for our patients and their families without regard to payment,” said Lauri Tanner, president and CEO of Ranken Jordan.  “The average length of stay for our patients is 51 days, and many children come from families with incomes below poverty level.  It's comforting to know that our parents will be able to get their much needed rest as they prepare to take their children home.”

“As a St. Louis-based company, we want to give back to our community in a real, meaningful way,” said Michael Mullenix, chairman and CEO of Equis Hospitality Management.  “We hope to help make Ranken Jordan families’ time in St. Louis a little easier and more comfortable.”

 Families of Ranken Jordan patients will be able to stay free and receive free, roundtrip shuttle service to and from any one of Equis’ six metro area hotels including the new Homewood Suites by Hilton – Galleria; Homewood Suites by Hilton – Riverport; Residence Inn by Marriott Downtown; Residence Inn by Marriott Airport/Earth City; Fairfield Inn by Marriott St. Louis/      St. Charles; and TownePlace Suites by Marriott St. Louis/St. Charles.  Equis is providing Ranken Jordan up to six rooms in any one of its metro area hotels, 365 days a year.

With the Homewood Suites Galleria’s opening, Equis Hospitality Management has added some local flavor to the national Hilton brand, offering guests a uniquely St. Louis experience.  Located on the site of the original Fitz’s Drive-In, the hotel offers guests Fitz’s famous root beer on tap, as well as numerous other quintessential St. Louis products during their stay.  In an effort to give guests a real taste of St. Louis, the hotel’s Suite Shop offers Schlafly beer, Bissinger’s chocolates, Dad’s Scotch Oatmeal Cookies, Ted Drewes frozen custard, Switzer’s licorice, Lucia’s toasted ravioli, and several flavors of Fitz’s.  Gooey butter cake is even a mainstay on the hotel’s complimentary breakfast buffet.

The $26 million dollar project was completed and opened in July.  The ten story hotel has 158 studio, one and two bedroom suites featuring “Sweet Dreams” beds with down duvets, 37-inch flat-screen TVs, well-stocked kitchens and Neutrogena bath products.  On the main level, there is a 1,400 square foot fitness center with a personal trainer available during key hours of the day, as well as an indoor pool and hot tub.  Business travelers will appreciate the private meeting room, business center and complimentary wireless and hard-wired internet service.  Business and leisure guests will enjoy the hotel’s complimentary Suite Start breakfast and a Welcome Home happy hour buffet.  Additional services include on-site laundry, personal grocery shopping and free shuttle rides within a 3-mile radius.

Equis Hospitality Management, LLC is an experienced hotel management company whose talented executive team has collectively developed more than 20 branded hotels in Missouri, Indiana, Wisconsin and Colorado.  The Homewood Suites Galleria is their latest project.  Additionally, EQUIS Hotels have been recipients of industry awards of excellence such as Opening Hotel of the Year for Marriott International, Inc. and Development of the Year for Hilton Hotels.    

Ranken Jordan - A Pediatric Specialty Hospital is one of a handful of hospitals in the country that provide rehabilitation and sub-acute medical treatment for children regardless of their family’s ability to pay. For children with complex medical conditions, such as brain injuries or complications due to premature birth, Ranken Jordan helps bridge the gap between traditional hospital treatment and going home.  Ranken Jordan offers care through a 34-bed inpatient program and several outpatient programs, including outpatient therapy, intensive day treatment and comprehensive orthopedic/rehabilitation clinic.