History
Our HistoryChrisBro Inc. was founded in 1999 by Craig and Harry Christianson. Craig brought financial expertise to bring a vision of a hospitality company grounded in exceptional service, strong financial performance, and long-term growth to reality. What began as a strategic investment in the hotel industry has evolved into a trusted, family-owned hotel ownership, development, and management company serving key markets across South Dakota and Iowa.
From the beginning, ChrisBro Hospitality has remained committed to a people-first philosophy—believing that investing in team members drives superior guest experiences, operational excellence, and consistent returns. This approach has guided the company's success in hotel development, hotel renovations, and award-winning hotel management throughout the Midwest.
ChrisBro's journey began in 2000 with the opening of its first hotel, the Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Rapid City, South Dakota. Located near Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, the property quickly established itself as a reliable and affordable hotel option in one of the region's most visited travel destinations. In 2024, the hotel completed a full renovation, introducing modern guest rooms and updated public spaces—further strengthening its position as a newly renovated hotel in Rapid City for both leisure and business travelers.
Building on this early success, ChrisBro expanded its portfolio with thoughtfully developed and high-performing hotels designed to meet the needs of both business and leisure guests.
The Hampton Inn Rapid City became a cornerstone property in the company's growth opened in 2002, known for its flexible meeting space and family-friendly amenities, including a 102-foot indoor waterslide—the first of its kind within the Hampton brand. In a strategic move reflecting continued growth and brand diversification, the hotel was recently converted and completely renovated into ChrisBro's first Choice Hotels property Comfort Inn & Suites Rapid City near Mt. Rushmore, marking a significant milestone in the company's evolution as a hotel owner and operator.
As ChrisBro expanded beyond South Dakota, the company established a strong presence in Iowa with the 2006 addition of the Hampton Inn Waterloo, a top-performing hotel recognized with Hilton's prestigious Lighthouse Award for excellence in guest service and operations.
This growth continued with the development of the Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Falls in 2012, a full-service hotel. Designed to serve as a premier destination for conferences, weddings, and large-scale events, the property further solidified ChrisBro's reputation in hotel development and event-driven hospitality. With continued success, the event space was expanded into the attached Cedar Falls Convention Center featuring more than 15,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space.
In 2019, ChrisBro expanded its footprint in Rapid City with the opening of dual Hilton brand hotels near Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills: Hampton Inn & Suites Rapid City Rushmore and Tru by Hilton Rapid City Rushmore. These properties introduced contemporary design, enhanced guest amenities, and family-focused features such as outdoor firepits,150ft waterslide, state of the art fitness facility, and indoor saltwater pool, strengthening the company's presence in one of South Dakota's most competitive hotel markets.
Today, ChrisBro Hospitality continues to build on its legacy as a trusted and leading hotel development and management company in the Midwest. With multiple new hotel development projects underway and a strong pipeline for future growth, the company remains focused on:
- Strategic hotel development in high-demand markets
- Hotel renovations and brand conversions
- Revenue optimization and asset performance
- Delivering exceptional guest experiences