Cambria Hotel Colorado Springs Opens Near Air Force Academy
ARK Hospitality and Shahford Hospitality open a newly constructed Cambria Hotel in Colorado Springs less than one year after groundbreaking.
The short answer
ARK Hospitality and Shahford Hospitality have opened the newly built Cambria Hotel Colorado Springs – Air Force Academy. The project completed construction in less than one year alongside Baxter Construction.
“Seeing this hotel go from groundbreaking to opening in less than a year is something we are extremely proud of.”
The short version
- ARK Hospitality and Shahford Hospitality developed the Cambria Hotel Colorado Springs – Air Force Academy alongside Baxter Construction.
- The new-build property completed construction and reached opening in less than one year from its initial groundbreaking.
- ARK Hospitality oversees management, onboarding, and day-to-day property operations.
ARK Hospitality and Shahford Hospitality have officially opened the new-construction Cambria Hotel Colorado Springs – Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado [1]. The hotel sits less than 10 minutes from the U.S. Air Force Academy and completed its full transition from groundbreaking to active guest operations in less than one year [1].
Who developed and operates the new Cambria Hotel?
ARK Hospitality and Shahford Hospitality co-developed the property in partnership with Baxter Construction [1]. ARK Hospitality, led by President Aaron Walker, was retained to open, onboard, and manage day-to-day operations for the property, according to Asian Hospitality [2]. Shahford Hospitality is led by Partner Ketan Shah [2].

Hotel Business reported that ARK Hospitality took charge of the entire onboarding process leading up to opening day [1]. Arturo Jimenez, vice president for business development and client relations at ARK Hospitality, noted that the operating team was entrusted to manage the asset and deliver long-term value for ownership partners [1].
How fast did the construction and opening process take?
The hotel moved from groundbreaking to its official opening in less than one year [1]. Ketan Shah called the rapid project delivery a meaningful milestone for the partnership, crediting Baxter Construction and project partners for bringing the build to completion inside that 12-month window [1].

As Asian Hospitality highlighted, completing an entire new construction hotel inside a single calendar year represents an unusually swift turnaround for modern lodging projects [2]. The partners executed construction and operational onboarding simultaneously to hit their target timetable [1].
What attractions and demand drivers surround the hotel?
The hotel sits less than 10 minutes away from the U.S. Air Force Academy campus [1]. Beyond institutional and defense travel generated by the academy, the property provides access to several regional leisure and cultural sites across the Colorado Springs market [1].

According to Hotel Business, nearby destinations include Garden of the Gods, the Manitou Incline outdoor trail, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, Ford Amphitheater, and the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum [1]. These diverse destinations draw a mix of sports tourism, cultural travelers, and military-affiliated visitors directly into the immediate submarket [1].
| Property Name | Location | Developer / Partner | Operator | Construction Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria Hotel Colorado Springs – Air Force Academy | Colorado Springs, Colorado | ARK Hospitality, Shahford Hospitality | ARK Hospitality | Baxter Construction |
| Holiday Inn & Suites Commerce City-Denver Airport | Commerce City, Colorado | NibbleNook Hospitality | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
What else is opening across Colorado's hospitality market?
Regional development activity is expanding beyond Colorado Springs into adjacent front range submarkets [2]. Asian Hospitality noted that NibbleNook Hospitality recently delivered the 106-room Holiday Inn & Suites Commerce City-Denver Airport in Commerce City, Colorado [2]. Both openings demonstrate sustained owner appetite for focused-service and select-service properties situated near critical infrastructure nodes and transit hubs [2].
Reported by
This article was written from the following reporting. Follow the links for the original coverage.
- [1]Cambria Hotel Opens Near Air Force Academy in Colorado— Hotel Business
- [2]Cambria Opens Colorado Springs Property Near Air Force Academy— asianhospitality.com
Frequently asked
+Where is the new Cambria Hotel located in Colorado Springs?
The hotel is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, less than 10 minutes from the U.S. Air Force Academy. It also sits near regional destinations including Garden of the Gods, the Manitou Incline, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, Ford Amphitheater, and the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.
+Who developed the Cambria Hotel Colorado Springs?
The hotel was developed by ARK Hospitality and Shahford Hospitality in partnership with general contractor Baxter Construction. Ketan Shah serves as partner at Shahford Hospitality, while Aaron Walker leads ARK Hospitality as president.
+Who manages operations at Cambria Hotel Colorado Springs?
ARK Hospitality was retained to open, onboard, and operate the new-construction property. Vice President of Business Development and Client Relations Arturo Jimenez leads relationship and operational integration for the firm.
+How long did construction take for Cambria Hotel Colorado Springs?
The hotel went from initial groundbreaking to opening in less than one year, according to partner Ketan Shah.
+What other Colorado hotel opened recently in the area?
NibbleNook Hospitality recently opened the 106-room Holiday Inn & Suites Commerce City-Denver Airport in Commerce City, Colorado.
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