SILVER SPRING, Md.,
Dec. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/
-- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), Concord
Hospitality, We Care Trading Co., Ltd, and Meyer Jabara Hotels
today announced the official groundbreaking of three Cambria Suites
hotels in New York. The properties
will be located in Times Square and Chelsea in Manhattan, and downtown White Plains in nearby Westchester County. Entry into New York builds on Choice Hotels' growth in
the upscale lodging segment and the expansion of Cambria Suites in
key urban markets, offering business travelers a stylish, new
all-suite hotel product with exceptional services and amenities at
a great value. The three projects represent a combined investment
of approximately $141 million in
New York, the creation of nearly
1,000 jobs and 461 hotel rooms.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121206/PH25632
)
"Having three hotels under simultaneous construction in the
New York metro area speaks volumes
about the great appeal and performance potential of Cambria
Suites," says Steve Joyce, President
and Chief Executive Officer of Choice Hotels International.
"Working with the industry's top developers gives us that extra
edge in bringing this brand to New
York, one of the most dynamic and highly competitive hotel
and real estate markets in the country. Development demand
for Cambria Suites hotels in major metropolitan markets is stronger
than ever. Our rapidly-growing, award-winning brand appeals
to business travelers looking for stylish, accommodations at a
great price."
These new developments underscore the growing appeal of Cambria
Suites to guests and franchisees. All hotels are new-construction
and the brand leads the rest of the upscale lodging segment in
guest satisfaction scores as measured by guests' likelihood to
recommend (LTR). As of today, many Cambria Suites hotels are
ranked #1 and #2 in their respective markets on TripAdvisor.
Right now, across the hotel industry, demand is outpacing supply
for upscale hotels which tend to primarily attract the business
traveler.
Cambria Suites – Times Square
The 81,000 square-foot, 196-suite Cambria Suites Times Square is
a venture between Choice Hotels and Concord Hospitality of
Raleigh, NC. A bar positioned in
the lobby space fronting 46th street connects hotel guests with the
city, and there is outdoor seating at the front and rear of the
hotel. The property is scheduled to open in winter 2014 and will be
located at 30 W. 46th Street, in the heart of Manhattan's central business district.
"This is our first of three Cambria Suites developments in major
urban markets," says Mark Laport,
President and CEO of Concord Hospitality. "The Cambria Suites
design meets the needs of today's business traveler and we are
excited by the commitment that Choice Hotels has made to the
development of this new upscale brand."
Cambria Suites – Chelsea
Cambria Suites Chelsea is being developed by Robert Chun, of We Care Trading Co., Ltd. and
will be managed by Concord Hospitality. "As successful
entrepreneurs entering the hospitality industry, we have surrounded
ourselves with the best possible organizations: Cambria Suites,
Choice Hotels and Concord Hospitality," says Robert Chun, Director of Development of We Care
Trading Co., Ltd. "We considered many brands, but introducing a
fresh, new all-suite hotel in Manhattan in the fast-growing upscale segment
was clearly the best choice." Plaza seating at the street scape
allows guests to soak up the scent and beauty of the Flower
District while a rear outdoor patio seating offers an intimate
gathering place for drinks, food and fun. Situated in one of
Manhattan's hippest neighborhoods,
the property will be located at 123-125 W. 28th Street, and will
feature 135 suites in 56,500 square feet. Cambria Suites Chelsea
will open in the second quarter of 2014.
Cambria Suites – White
Plains
Cambria Suites White Plains will be one of the first hotels of
this brand to be part of a mixed-use, urban design development. It
will sit atop two stories of retail space in the heart of downtown
White Plains at 250 Main Street.
Cambria Suites White Plains will also feature the brand's first
pods in the common spaces where guests will be able to sit and
relax in front of the TV or work quietly on the computer. This
project is expected to open in summer 2013 with 130 suites that are
larger than standard hotel rooms, an indoor pool and valet
parking.
"White Plains is the commercial
hub for Westchester County. Home
to more than a dozen Fortune 500 companies and many more
corporations, White Plains and the
surrounding region attract business travelers from all over the
world," says Bill Meyer, Chairman of
Meyer Jabara Hotels. "Cambria Suites is the perfect upscale
hotel for those travelers who seek a productive and stylish
experience."
"We're working with some of the best developers in the industry
in bringing a fresh hotel option to New
York," says Michael Murphy,
SVP of Cambria Suites. "It's an exciting time in the brand's
history and growth, and we know Cambria Suites is not only going to
meet, but exceed the needs and wants of today's business
traveler."
In addition to the construction starts in New York, Cambria Suites recently announced
development agreements in West Orange,
N.J., West Palm Beach, Fla.
and Williamsport, Pa. There
are currently 19 Cambria Suites hotels across the country, with a
property in Miami, Fla. expected
to open in the summer of 2013.
Hotel Design and Amenities
Cambria Suites all new-build hotels are designed to appeal to
business travelers who seek contemporary, upscale accommodations
with the services and amenities on their must-have list. These
include free Wi-Fi and remote printing throughout the hotel,
sophisticated in-room technology, a separate sleep and work area, a
fitness center, and inviting public spaces. Each guest room offers
the latest technology, including two flat-screen LCD televisions
and MediaHub™ plug-and-play technology, allowing guests to connect
their laptop, MP3 player, game console, digital camera or CD/DVD
player hassle-free.
All Cambria Suites hotels feature Reflect, a casual
dining and gathering area serving a dinner menu featuring fun,
fresh and familiar American cuisine, liquor, wine, beer, freshly
prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches, a barista bar
featuring Wolfgang Puck® coffee and a hot breakfast buffet;
Refresh, a state-of-the-art fitness center; and
Refill, a 24-7 convenience store that offers energy drinks,
snacks and sundries.
About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises approximately 6,200
hotels, representing more than 495,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other
countries and territories. As September 30,
2012, more than 360 hotels representing 29,000 rooms were
under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development
in the United States.
Additionally, 75 hotels, representing approximately 7,000 rooms,
were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for
development in approximately 20 other countries and territories.
The company's Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn,
Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay
Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands serve guests
worldwide. In addition, via its Ascend Collection membership
program, travelers have upscale lodging options at historic,
boutique and unique hotels.
Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice
Hotels International, Inc. website, which may be accessed at
www.choicehotels.com.
About Cambria Suites
Cambria Suites offers contemporary, upscale accommodations at
affordable prices. Designed as a lifestyle hotel brand, Cambria
Suites offers more than just a place to sleep at night. It features
a larger lobby to give guests a more social atmosphere, all-suite
rooms that are larger than standard hotel rooms and include a
separate living, working and sleeping space, providing business and
leisure travelers a haven to relax, socialize and network. As of
September 30, 2012, there were 19
properties open across the country, representing more than 4,600
guest suites, and 26 properties in various stages of development,
representing an additional 3,500 guest suites.
About Concord Hospitality
Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company, an award-winning hotel
management and development company based in Raleigh, N.C., manages over 90 hotels offering
more than 11,500 guest rooms in 22 states and two Canadian
provinces. The company operates hotels and resorts under such
well-known industry elite brands as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt,
Starwood, and Choice Hotels, as well as select independent boutique
hotels. Formed in 1985, Concord
recently was listed as one of the nation's top management companies
in the nation by independent sources, and recently won Marriott's
elite Partnership Circle award for the eighth time. Concord properties are some of the most
awarded hotels in the country, having won nearly 100 top honors in
the past two years alone. For more information, visit
www.concordhotels.com.
About We Care Trading
Founded in 1973, We Care Trading Co., Ltd. is a part of a
diversified organization with broad expertise in sales,
manufacturing, import, export and distribution. In recent years, We
Care Trading Co., Ltd. has expanded its reach into other business
arenas. Currently, it is part of an organization of companies that
owns and manages seven commercial properties in two of the largest
markets in the U.S., Manhattan, NY
and Los Angeles, CA. The
organization also maintains an office in Hong Kong. Cambria Suites represents the first
hotel development investment by We Care Trading Co., Ltd. Concord
Hospitality Enterprises, an award-winning hotel management and
Development Company based in Raleigh,
N.C., will manage the Cambria Suites Chelsea property.
About Meyer Jabara Hotels
Meyer Jabara Hotels is an award-winning hospitality company
owning and operating 26 hotels in 10 states. Their portfolio of
hotels includes Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton and Holiday Inn brands
as well as several independent boutique hotels. For over 30 years,
Meyer Jabara Hotels has distinguished itself by the diversity of
its hotel portfolio and its frequent rankings as a "Best Place to
Work" by the Great Places to Work Institute. To learn more, visit
www.meyerjabarahotels.com.
Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort
Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay
Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and
Ascend Hotel Collection are proprietary trademarks and service
marks of Choice Hotels International.
© 2012 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights
reserved.
SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.