Steps away from the Washington Convention Center, any new hotel opening will infuse much-needed room inventory into a neighborhood that needs it. Choice Hotels International is partnering with Concord Hospitality to open one of its newest brands, Cambria Suites, which will be the first in the nation's capital.
Cambria is known for its modern style and amenity-rich offering designed for business travelers.
The new, all-suites hotel is expected to open in the fast-growing Shaw neighborhood in mid-2014 with 182 units representing a total investment of more than $40 million in the area. It will be part of a mixed-use development and the first hotel in the Cambria Suites' portfolio to be LEED certified.
Other amenities will include a rooftop swimming pool, convenience store, fitness center, and outdoor garden terrace with views of the Capitol building.
A groundbreaking ceremony earlier this month included company officials and local dignitaries including Washington DC Mayor Vincent Gray. At the event, Choice Hotels International's CEO Stephen Joyce reiterated the company's commitment to revitalizing and investing in the neighborhood, which falls in the backyard of the company's own headquarters in nearby Maryland.
"We're not only giving visitors a great place to stay…but we will be infusing millions of dollars into the local economy and community for years to come," he noted.
Additional features of the mixed-use development will include retail outlets, residential units, and parking space.
The hotel interior will be decorated using local artwork and pieces from area designers to lend a DC feel to the place rather than staid chain furnishings. Reflect, the hotel's dining and social space will serve dinner and beverages to guests as well as providing a place for people to gather. A barista bar will caffeinate guests from morning to night while a hot breakfast buffet is provided each morning.
Guest rooms will not disappoint either with flat-screen cable TVs and connectivity stations allowing guests to integrate their smart phones, CDs or DVDs, and digital cameras onto the large screens. Free wireless high speed Internet will be another important business travel component.
Other brands in the Choice Hotels portfolio include Quality Inn, Comfort Inn and Suites, and the high-end Ascend Collection. The Cambria brand is considered a more upscale option than the Choice mainstay of brands, but does not compromise on its value-for-money proposition. The Washington, DC groundbreaking complements existing announcements for new hotels in Miami, Dallas, and Scottsdale, Arizona.
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