Choice Hotels Opens Six Upscale Properties in US

Choice Hotels International has added six upscale properties across its Cambria Hotels and Ascend Collection flags, broadening its footprint in Colorado, Florida, Vermont, and Wisconsin [1]. The additions include two new Cambria hotels and four Ascend Collection properties, lifting the group's domestic upscale footprint past 300 operating properties with nearly 150 more in the development pipeline [1].

Which markets gained new Cambria Hotels locations?

Cambria Hotels expanded into El Paso County, Colorado, and Duval County, Florida, targeting destinations that mix corporate demand with regional leisure activities [1]. According to Lodging Magazine, the newly opened Cambria Hotel Colorado Springs – Air Force Academy features 97 rooms and suites, a rooftop bar, an on-site restaurant, a 24-hour Grab & Go marketplace, and 286 square feet of dedicated meeting space [1]. The property sits five miles from the U.S. Air Force Academy and gives guests direct transit access to regional draws such as Garden of the Gods, the Manitou Incline, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, and Ford Amphitheater [1].

In Northeast Florida, the newly built Cambria Hotel Jacksonville features an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, rooftop event space, and a locally themed restaurant and bar [1]. Lodging Magazine reported that the Jacksonville property positions itself near major regional economic and medical drivers, including the Mayo Clinic, St. Johns Town Center, the University of North Florida, EverBank Stadium, and TPC Sawgrass [1]. Guestrooms feature spa-inspired bathrooms and premium bedding alongside complimentary Wi-Fi [1].

How is the Ascend Collection expanding along Florida's Gulf Coast?

In Sarasota, Florida, Choice added two Ascend Collection hotels that function in tandem through shared facilities while maintaining separate brand identities [1]. Caretta Landing Sarasota and Coral Pointe Sarasota operate side by side, sharing an outdoor heated resort pool, fitness facilities, complimentary hot breakfast service, and approximately 1,100 square feet of combined meeting space [1].

As reported by Lodging Magazine, Caretta Landing Sarasota offers 86 guestrooms tailored around wellness amenities, serving visitors traveling to Siesta Key Beach, the University Town Center district, The Ringling Museum, and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium [1]. Adjoining it, Coral Pointe Sarasota houses 107 guestrooms and apartment-style suites, an on-site boutique retail shop, complimentary coffee stations, and private meeting space catering to guests visiting Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota Art Museum, Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, and Nathan Benderson Park [1].

What leisure amenities define the Midwest and Northeast Ascend additions?

Outside Florida, Choice opened two leisure-oriented Ascend Collection properties in Mishicot, Wisconsin, and Peru, Vermont [1]. Fairway Inn and Suites in Mishicot features 102 newly renovated guestrooms alongside nearly 19,000 square feet of meeting and event space [1]. The hotel operates an indoor heated pool, hot tub, fitness center, and the on-site Greyfox Bar and Grill, while marketing stay-and-play packages tied to an adjacent 45-hole golf course [1]. It provides access to Point Beach State Forest, Green Bay, and Two Rivers [1].

In Vermont, Sun Lodge opened at the base of Bromley Mountain in Peru [1]. The 50-room mountain lodge delivers ski-in/ski-out access in the winter alongside four-season outdoor amenities including fire pits, a sundeck, a game room, a picnic area, and nearly 800 square feet of flexible meeting facilities [1]. The lodge sits near the Long Trail Trailhead, Mount Equinox Skyline Drive, Stratton Mountain, Hildene, and outlet retail centers in Manchester [1].

How do the six new properties compare across capacity and amenities?

The six properties reflect a mix of suburban commercial hubs, Gulf Coast beaches, Midwestern golf corridors, and alpine recreation areas [1].

What is the scale of Choice Hotels' broader upscale footprint?

Choice Hotels now operates more than 300 upscale hotels across the United States, backed by an active pipeline of nearly 150 properties [1]. The company's upscale division encompasses Cambria Hotels, Ascend Collection, Radisson, Radisson Blu, and Radisson Individuals [1]. Mark Shalala, senior vice president of development for upscale brands at Choice Hotels International, noted that owner and developer demand remains strong for its upscale platform [1].