Choice Hotels International has opened six new hotels under its Cambria Hotels and Ascend Collection brands. Two are Cambria properties, and four are Ascend Collection hotels. The openings span Colorado, Florida, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The company said its upscale portfolio now includes more than 300 open hotels in the United States, with nearly 150 more in the pipeline.

The Cambria Openings

Cambria Hotel Colorado Springs – Air Force Academy is located about five miles from the U.S. Air Force Academy. It has 97 guestrooms and suites, an on-site restaurant, a rooftop bar, a 24-hour Grab & Go marketplace, and 286 square feet of meeting space. Nearby attractions include Garden of the Gods, the Manitou Incline, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum.

Cambria Hotel Jacksonville, in Florida, is close to St. Johns Town Center, Mayo Clinic, the University of North Florida, TPC Sawgrass, and EverBank Stadium. It offers a restaurant and bar, an outdoor pool, a rooftop event space, a fitness center, and complimentary WiFi.

The Ascend Collection Openings

Two of the Ascend Collection hotels are in Sarasota, Florida. Caretta Landing Sarasota has 86 guestrooms and a wellness focus, with an outdoor heated pool and flexible meeting space. Coral Pointe Sarasota has 107 guestrooms and apartment-style suites, a boutique retail market, and complimentary coffee. The two properties share a pool, a fitness center, a complimentary hot breakfast, and nearly 1,100 square feet of combined meeting space. Both are near Siesta Key Beach.

The other two are in the Midwest and New England:

• Fairway Inn and Suites, Mishicot, Wisconsin: 102 renovated guestrooms, nearly 19,000 square feet of event space, an indoor heated pool, and the Greyfox Bar and Grill.
• Sun Lodge, Peru, Vermont: 50 guestrooms at the base of Bromley Mountain, with ski-in/ski-out access in winter. It also has a game room, fire pits, a sundeck, and nearly 800 square feet of event space.

Brand and Portfolio Context

Choice overall has more than 7,500 hotels in 49 countries and territories. Ascend Collection is described as the first soft brand in the hotel industry, meaning independent hotels join a larger network while keeping their own identity. The brand reached its 500th hotel opening earlier this year. Cambria Hotels has more than 75 properties open in cities including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Nashville, and Phoenix. Choice’s upscale group also includes Radisson, Radisson Blu, and Radisson Individuals.

Mark Shalala, Senior Vice President of Development for Upscale Brands at Choice, said owners and developers are showing strong interest in the company’s upscale platform. He added, “As we continue expanding our upscale portfolio across the country, we’re focused on helping owners succeed while delivering experiences that resonate with today’s travelers by meeting their increasing demand for unique upscale accommodations.”