ROCKVILLE, MD. - Choice Hotels International, Inc. signed an agreement with Sandalwood Management and KPG Hotels to develop its first upscale Cambria hotel in Baltimore. The 14-story, 144-room hotel, originally known as the American Building, was the first office building constructed following the Great Baltimore Fire in 1905. The property is located at 231 East Baltimore Street.
Expected to open by the end of 2018, the hotel is in the heart of the city, making it an ideal destination for business and leisure travelers. The property is near the Baltimore Convention Center, the Inner Harbor, Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium, Johns Hopkins University and Hospital, and the National Aquarium. Major businesses in the area include Constellation Energy, Morgan Stanley, T. Rowe Price, and Under Armour.
"The Cambria Hotel Baltimore is another important component of our growth in key urban markets throughout the country. This property is a part of our adaptive reuse strategy, which helps bring hotels to markets where land is at a premium, while also preserving the history of the building and creating something that is uniquely local for guests," said Mark Shalala, vice president, development, upscale brands at Choice Hotels.
The Cambria Hotel Baltimore will include flexible meeting spaces, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The property will also feature contemporary onsite dining, serving a menu comprised of local specialties, liquor, wine, and local craft beers, as well as freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches, and a barista bar.
Sandalwood Management and KPG Hotels have previously worked together to own and build Choice Hotels properties, including Quality Inn's, Comfort Inn, and Comfort Suites, in their primary footprint.
"We're excited to once again work with Choice Hotels to bring our very first Cambria property to the heart of Baltimore. It truly is a privilege to team up with Choice given all of the tools and resources the company provides," said Raj Parikh of KPG Hotels. Paul Patel of Sandalwood Management and Neel Parikh of KPG Hotels, who oversaw the acquisition of the American Building and subsequent vision for adaptive reuse, also remarked that the location and the Cambria brand will be a perfect fit for the Baltimore market.
