Choice Enters All-Suite Market

Choice Hotels International's latest entry to the all-suite market is up and running, with its first Cambria Suites hotel opening in Boise, Idaho, last month and several more slated to follow.

The Cambria brand, Choice's first foray into the select-service all-suite domain, is set to blossom as it attracts substantial developer attention, said David Pepper, Choice's president of upscale and extended stay markets. Following the grand opening in Boise, Choice will open five more Cambria hotels this year: in Green Bay and Appleton, Wis.; Akron, Ohio; Savannah, Ga.; and Minneapolis. The company also plans at least 20 more Cambria builds to break ground this year, according to Pepper.

"We just executed our 50th contract, and we're looking at having 25 hotels open by the end of next year," he said. "We're so pleased with the product, and the reviews we're getting from customers are excellent."

Cambria Suites hotels feature such business travel amenities as free high-speed Internet access and moveable desks, and locations are skewing highly toward those favored by business travelers, he said. The Boise property was near the airport, as will be several future properties, including those in Atlanta, Baltimore, Denver and Newark, N.J., according to Pepper.

As the brand grows, it will provide a new higher-end option for corporate travel buyers looking to build a portfolio with Choice, Pepper said. The brand was spawned following dual demand from customers and developers, he said.

"The group from corporate sales is just salivating to get more Cambrias open," Pepper said. "The technology and the separate sleeping and working areas are a huge attraction to the business traveler, so many businesses and corporations are looking for this type of product."