ROCKVILLE, MD. - Cambria Hotels is on track to finish 2017 with the most property openings in a single year in the brand's history. The upscale brand, one of 11 Choice Hotels International, Inc.brands, now has 32 open hotels in the United States. Six hotels have opened and four more are scheduled to open this year. In addition, there are more than 70 Cambria properties in the pipeline.
In 2017, new Cambria properties opened in key regions of the country, including Los Angeles – LAX, the brand's first property on the west coast; Chicago Loop-Theatre District, the brand's first adaptive reuse; Newport, R.I.; and, most recently, New Orleans. The Cambria brand also plans to add two new properties in November in Asheville, N.C., and Westfield, Ind., followed by Phoenix and Dallas in December.
The Cambria brand offers a tremendous value proposition for both franchisees and guests with a stylish and local product, as well as upscale amenities designed for the modern traveler. The brand is rapidly expanding in key markets where developers want to invest, and provides a flexible prototype and options to build new construction, or use existing structures through adaptive reuse and conversion projects. Choice Hotels expects to invest $475 million in corporate capital to grow the Cambria brand.
Consumer feedback reinforces that the brand is delivering for guests, receiving a nine-out-of-10 satisfaction score in internal feedback. In addition, nearly one-third of the hotels are ranked number one or two in their markets on top third-party review sites.
"The growth and performance of our upscale brands, especially Cambria Hotels, is contributing to Choice Hotels' current and future success. It has been a watershed year as we open more hotels in top 50 U.S. markets than any previous year," said Patrick Pacious, president and chief executive officer, Choice Hotels. "Our strong development momentum proves that our brand strategy is working. Developers see the strong value proposition and return on investment, and guests love the product and experience."
Following are highlights on the recently and soon-to-be open properties:
- Cambria Hotel New Orleans Warehouse District – The 162-room property is located in the trendy Arts and Warehouse District offering numerous dining and entertainment options and the action of the French Quarter. The area has been designated a - Louisiana Cultural District, and the hotel is just blocks from the New Orleans Convention Center and is adjacent to the central business district.
- Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville – The 136-room property is at the epicenter of the city's many attractions, steps from a multitude of award-winning craft breweries, restaurants, art galleries and music venues. The property is also a short distance from the iconic Biltmore Estate. The property offers a one-of-a-kind scenic view of the nearby Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountain ranges, and is in close proximity to the Biltmore Company and Mission Health corporate headquarters as well as the GE Aviation facility.
- Cambria Hotel Westfield – The 153-room hotel will be part of the Westfield Grand Park Village, directly across from Westfield's Grand Park Sports Campus. The property is a short drive from Indianapolis, which is home to many corporate headquarters and major attractions, including the Indianapolis Convention Center, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Klipsch Music Center.
The Cambria Hotels brand pipeline includes properties in 34 of the top 50 markets, including Austin, Texas; Burbank, Calif.; Baltimore; Calabasas, Calif.; Charleston, S.C.; Houston; Miami; Milwaukee; Napa, Calif.; Orlando, Fla.; San Francisco; and Tampa, Fla.
"The investment that Choice Hotels is making in the Cambria brand reinforces our commitment to the brand and allows us to work with developers to put the right product in the right markets," said Pacious. "It is also a win-win for developers as we offer one of the strongest value propositions in the industry with our talented team, led by Janis Cannon and Mark Shalala who oversee our upscale brand and development efforts, and the best technology, tools and resources to help our properties be successful."
Choice Hotels also recently redesigned its development website to create a more welcoming, dynamic and user-friendly experience for franchisees and developers. The updated site offers exciting visuals and easy to find information and resources, while also highlighting the value and benefits of developing a hotel with Choice. Enhancements to the site's technology include improved mobile capability, a content management system that allows for rapid updates and creative flexibility, as well as seamless email integration. Visit ChoiceHotelsDevelopment.com to experience the new site and learn more about development opportunities with Choice Hotels.
