Hotel Online
News for the Hospitality Executive


advertisement



Choice Hotels Enters Joint Venture with Fillmore Capital Partners
to Develop Multiple Cambria Suites Hotel Properties

LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2013 -- From its annual convention, Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, today announced a major turning point for Cambria Suites, adding to the upscale brand's growing clout. Choice Hotels has entered into a joint venture with private investment firm Fillmore Capital Partners, LLC and its affiliates to develop multiple Cambria Suites hotel properties. This marks the brand's first institutional investor, underscoring the confidence developers and Choice Hotels have already expressed for the emerging brand's performance potential.

"This is further proof to the investment and development communities that we are truly making great strides with Cambria Suites," said Stephen P. Joyce, president and chief executive officer of Choice Hotels International. "Institutional investors bring instant influence to the table and Fillmore Capital is as good as it gets. Their team has the relationships with investors and access to capital coupled with a deep understanding of the hospitality industry."

The venture with Fillmore provides for the future development of multiple Cambria Suites hotels at locations within urban markets. This strategic partnership aligns perfectly with Choice Hotels' plan to establish Cambria Suites as a major brand in such key markets. Notably, Cambria Suites celebrated a landmark triple groundbreaking in the New York market at the end of 2012 and more recently broke ground in downtown Washington, D.C. as part of a highly anticipated mixed-use project next to the convention center. Further, Cambria Suites is part of a major mixed-use development in Rockville, Maryland next to Choice Hotels International's new global headquarters and announced a double development agreement for the Dallas and Phoenix markets with a first-rate developer.

All Cambria Suites 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). Currently, many Cambria Suites hotels are ranked #1 and #2 in their respective markets on TripAdvisor. The brand is making its mark for delivering a consistently high level of style at an equally attractive price guests have come to count on.

"We have long admired the Cambria Suites brand's strong product design and appropriateness for today's lifestyle-oriented traveler," said Ronald E. Silva, president and chief executive officer of Fillmore Capital Partners. "The current hospitality environment presents a unique opportunity to partner with Choice Hotels and expand this emerging brand through development in major markets. Further, our affiliate, Fillmore Hospitality, will manage the Cambria Suites hotels that we develop. Fillmore Hospitality has extensive experience in establishing and supporting new and emerging brands along with independent hotels and resorts, which will provide a natural management fit for our properties."

"The Cambria Suites and Fillmore synergies are a game changer," said Michael Murphy, senior vice president of upscale brands for Choice Hotels International. "We know Cambria Suites is the right product at the right time. And now we have a major partner saying the same thing by helping us bring even more product to market, faster than ever. Travelers today – especially business travelers -- are asking for it. Upscale is among the fastest growing lodging segments in the industry where demand consistently outpaces supply across the country."

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, spacious all-suite rooms that include separate areas to work and rest, providing business and leisure travelers room to relax, socialize and network.

All Cambria Suites hotels feature Reflect, a casual dining and gathering area serving a dinner menu, 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 with an elegant pool and hot tub/spa area; and Refill, a 24-7 convenience store that offers energy drinks, snacks and sundries.

In addition, each suite 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.  Free high-speed wired and wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel so that guests can stay connected.

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 March 31, 2013, there were 19 properties open across the country, representing nearly 2200 guest suites, and 26 properties in various stages of development, representing an additional 3700 guest suites.

About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises over 6,200 hotels, representing more than 500,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories.  As of March 31, 2013, 395 hotels, representing more than 30,000 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States.  Additionally, 81 hotels, representing approximately 7,000 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in more than 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, as well as its Ascend Hotel Collection membership program, serve guests worldwide.

Choice Hotels International offers the Choice Privileges® rewards program. With nearly 17 million members worldwide, is one of the fastest growing hotel loyalty programs in the travel industry.

Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. website, which may be accessed at www.choicehotels.com.

About  Fillmore Capital Partners
Fillmore Capital Partners, LLC (FCP) is a private investment company that engages in the development, management, and distribution of investment vehicles for institutional and select private-client investors. FCP invests on behalf of its clients in lodging, healthcare, and operating company platforms, as well as opportunistic investments in other real estate asset classes.

Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Choice Privileges®, 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.

© 2013 Choice Hotels International, Inc.  All rights reserved.

Contact:

Sarah Lee
(301) 628-4397
[email protected]

www.choicehotels.com

.
Receive Your Hospitality Industry Headlines via Email for Free! Subscribe Here 

 To Learn More About Your News Being Published on Hotel-Online Inquire Here
 
Also See: Cambria Suites Enters Agreements for the 121-suite Cambria Suites McAllen Convention Center in McAllen, Texas and the 103-suite Cambria Suites West Fargo in North Dakota; Construction for Both Properties will Begin in 2013 / May 2013

Choice Hotels and Concord Hospitality Begin $40 Million Construction of the 182-room Cambria Suites Hotel in Washington, D.C. / March 2013

Cambria Suites to Expand into More Major Markets; Begins 2013 with Development Agreements for Properties in Arizona, Texas, Maryland and DC and a Q2 Opening in Miami / January 2013

Cambria Suites Enters New York with Construction Beginning on Three New Hotels in Times Square, Chelsea and White Plains; Choice Hotels International, Concord Hospitality, We Care Trading Co. and Meyer Jabara Hotels Celebrate Ground Breaking for Properties Slated to Open 2013-2014 / December 2012

Cambria Suites Brand to Expand to New Markets; Enters Development Agreements for Hotels in West Orange, New Jersey; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Williamsport, Pennsylvania / October 2012

Choice Hotels International Names C.A. Anderson as Vice President of Development for Cambria Suites / August 2012

Choice Hotels International Opens 88 New Hotels in Q2 2012 / August 2012

Choice Hotels International Names Louise Slark as Vice President, Compensation and Benefits / June 2012

Choice Hotels International Recognizes its Top Franchise Hotels & Owners at 2012 Convention; Woman of the Year Awarded to Kitty Friere, Top Hotels Awarded Hotel of the Year, Premier Alliance and Developer of the Year Recognitions / May 2012

Choice Hotels International Opens 46 New Hotels in Q1 2012; A 14% Increase over Q1 2011 / May 2012

Choice Hotels Promotes Stephanie Lykins to Vice President, Talent Development / April 2012

Choice Hotels International Appoints Alexandra Jaritz and Michael Murphy as Company Officers / March 2012

Robin Pence Appointed as Vice President of Public Relations for Choice Hotels International / March 2012

Choice Hotels International Appoints Barbara T. Alexander to its Board of Directors / February 2012

Choice Hotels Names Simone Wu as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary / February 2012

Choice Hotels Promotes Sarah Searls to Vice President of Business and Analytic Services / February 2012

Choices Hotels Appoints John Tague to its Board of Directors / January 2012

Choice Hotels International and Foulger-Pratt Companies Break Ground for New Choice Hotels Corporate Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland / August 2011

Choice Hotels International Opens 28 New Hotels in July 2011 / August 2011

Choice Hotels Executes Lease for New Corporate Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland / July 2011

Choice Hotels International Opens 27 New Hotels in June 2011 / July 2011

Choice Hotels International Opens 33 Hotels in November in 14 States and Seven Countries Adding More than 2,500 rooms / December 2010

Choice Hotels International Opens 24 New Hotels in October Adding More than 1,600 rooms / November 2010
.

To search Hotel Online data base of News and Trends Go to Hotel.OnlineSearch

Home | Welcome | Hospitality News
| Industry Resources

Please contact Hotel.Online with your comments and suggestions.