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| Gaia hotel |
Ascend
Hotel Collection® from Choice Hotels International, Inc. announced
five additional hotels in May and June 2013, propelling the group
past its landmark 100th hotel.
These latest additions increase the portfolio’s roster to 105 independent hotels worldwide and further its position as a leader in the growing trend toward affiliation for independent hotels.
Since its debut in 2008, Ascend Hotel Collection has quintupled in size, adding hotels on three continents and five countries. The portfolio has added 35 hotels since the beginning of this year alone. The newest members are: Port Inn Kennebunk, Kennebunk, Me.; Carnegie Inn and Spa, State College, Pa.; Hotel Florence, Florence, S.C. ; Hotel Med Park, Sacramento, Calif.; and Gaia Hotel, Anderson, Calif.
Hotel Florence, Florence, S.C. – This historic hotel and restaurant/bar reopened in May 2013, following a multi-million-dollar renovation. Located in the heart of the historic downtown, the new property serves as a hub of the city’s revitalization efforts. Hotel Florence’s chic new design pays homage to the lodging’s historic roots with exposed brick walls, original hardwood floors and two 19th century writing tables in the lobby that serve as the front desk.
All of the 49 guestrooms are outfitted with pillow-top mattresses and luxurious bedding, free Wi-Fi and flat-screen televisions. Many rooms feature large windows with splendid city views. For on-property dining, Victor’s Bistro is a full-service, upscale restaurant and bar consistently voted in the local press among the city’s finest. The hotel is within easy walking distance of lively shops, galleries, restaurants, museums, businesses, Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center and the Florence City-County Complex.
Carnegie Inn and Spa, State College, Pa. – Overlooking the 17th green of the Toftrees Golf Course, Carnegie Inn and Spa is Central Pennsylvania’s first AAA Four-Diamond hotel. The 21-room lodging is home to the full-service Carnegie Inn Restaurant, Carnegie Library Lounge and the ESSpa Kozmetika Spa, which specializes in organic facials, massages, body wraps and more. With its award-winning 1,600-hundred-bottle wine cellar, Carnegie Inn Restaurant consistently ranks as the area’s best fine dining experience by State College Magazine.
Guestrooms are plush with antique furnishings, luxury bed linens, deep soaking tubs and large windows serving up picturesque golf course views. Mornings at the inn start with a complimentary made-to-order hot breakfast. Carnegie Inn and Spa is minutes from University Park Airport, Penn State University, Beaver Stadium and the Bryce Jordan Center arena for concerts and sporting events.
These latest additions increase the portfolio’s roster to 105 independent hotels worldwide and further its position as a leader in the growing trend toward affiliation for independent hotels.
Since its debut in 2008, Ascend Hotel Collection has quintupled in size, adding hotels on three continents and five countries. The portfolio has added 35 hotels since the beginning of this year alone. The newest members are: Port Inn Kennebunk, Kennebunk, Me.; Carnegie Inn and Spa, State College, Pa.; Hotel Florence, Florence, S.C. ; Hotel Med Park, Sacramento, Calif.; and Gaia Hotel, Anderson, Calif.
Hotel Florence, Florence, S.C. – This historic hotel and restaurant/bar reopened in May 2013, following a multi-million-dollar renovation. Located in the heart of the historic downtown, the new property serves as a hub of the city’s revitalization efforts. Hotel Florence’s chic new design pays homage to the lodging’s historic roots with exposed brick walls, original hardwood floors and two 19th century writing tables in the lobby that serve as the front desk.
All of the 49 guestrooms are outfitted with pillow-top mattresses and luxurious bedding, free Wi-Fi and flat-screen televisions. Many rooms feature large windows with splendid city views. For on-property dining, Victor’s Bistro is a full-service, upscale restaurant and bar consistently voted in the local press among the city’s finest. The hotel is within easy walking distance of lively shops, galleries, restaurants, museums, businesses, Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center and the Florence City-County Complex.
Carnegie Inn and Spa, State College, Pa. – Overlooking the 17th green of the Toftrees Golf Course, Carnegie Inn and Spa is Central Pennsylvania’s first AAA Four-Diamond hotel. The 21-room lodging is home to the full-service Carnegie Inn Restaurant, Carnegie Library Lounge and the ESSpa Kozmetika Spa, which specializes in organic facials, massages, body wraps and more. With its award-winning 1,600-hundred-bottle wine cellar, Carnegie Inn Restaurant consistently ranks as the area’s best fine dining experience by State College Magazine.
Guestrooms are plush with antique furnishings, luxury bed linens, deep soaking tubs and large windows serving up picturesque golf course views. Mornings at the inn start with a complimentary made-to-order hot breakfast. Carnegie Inn and Spa is minutes from University Park Airport, Penn State University, Beaver Stadium and the Bryce Jordan Center arena for concerts and sporting events.
Port Inn Kennebunk, Kennebunk, Me. – This 46-room property is located off Interstate 95 close to Kennebunk beaches and the Rachel Carson National Wildlife refuge. Also nearby: restaurants, boutiques and galleries of Dock Square in Kennebunkport and Funtown Splashtown USA amusement park. Guestrooms feature plush bedding with down pillows, flat-screen televisions and free Wi-Fi, with a sleeper sofa and kitchen facilities available in select rooms. Guests enjoy complimentary continental breakfast and a seasonal outdoor heated pool. The trolley, running seasonally, stops right outside the hotel door, providing a fun way to get to the beach and see the sights of nearby Kennebunkport, Wells and Ogunquit.
Gaia Hotel, Anderson, Calif. – Steps away from the Sacramento River in Northern California's Shasta and Cascades region, the Gaia Hotel offers easy access to lakes, caverns, ski parks, water parks, shopping, museums, botanical gardens and national parks. As the City of Anderson’s first LEED-certified hotel, the property stays true to its namesake, “Gaia,” derived from the Greek word for Mother Earth, with green practices and design touches throughout.
There are 120 spacious guestrooms and suites with recycled tile and granite bathrooms, Wi-Fi and picture windows framing serene views of hotel gardens, fountains and swan lagoons. Among the other amenities, guests enjoy a saline outdoor heated pool; fitness center; 6,000 square feet of meeting space and full-service restaurant, Woodside Grill, serving fresh local foods and wines from nearby vineyards. The hotel is also home to the Living Waters Spa, pampering guests with holistic therapies featuring Northern California’s indigenous flowers and herbs.
Hotel Med Park, Sacramento, Calif. – Located in downtown Sacramento across the street from the UC Davis Medical Center, this contemporary boutique hotel is minutes from the Sacramento International Airport and major attractions, including the State Capital Building, Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento Zoo and the historic sights in Old Sacramento. Hotel Med Park houses 32 large guestrooms and suites, meeting facilities, and business and fitness centers. Guestrooms are well appointed with stylish dark-wood furnishings, microwaves and refrigerators. Some suites also come with spacious living rooms and balconies with scenic views of the northern California landscapes. Among the complimentary amenities, guests enjoy free breakfast, parking and Internet access throughout the hotel.
