5 Heartland Openings to Know

NATIONAL REPORT—From big cities to lakeside retreats, new hotels are popping up throughout the middle of the U.S.

Cambria Hotel Bettendorf — Quad Cities

Choice Hotels International Inc’s Cambria Hotels brand welcomed its first location in the Hawkeye State with the opening of the Cambria Hotel Bettendorf – Quad Cities.

The newly constructed, four-story, 112-room upscale hotel is located in the heart of the rapidly growing Quad Cities region, close to the Quad City International Airport and within walking distance to the TBK Bank Sports Complex—a regional attraction that is spurring further development of the Interstate 80 corridor. The hotel is also close to major employers, including 3M, Deere & Company (John Deere), Arconic, and the Rock Island Arsenal, a major U.S. Army installation.

Amenities include immersive, spa-style bathrooms with Bluetooth mirrors; a bistro and full-service bar offering food, local craft beer, wine, specialty cocktails and small bites; multifunction meeting space; an indoor heated pool; and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Frontier Hospitality Group developed the Cambria Hotel Bettendorf – Quad Cities, the first Choice-branded property in its portfolio.

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Fort Wayne Downtown

White Lodging has opened Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Fort Wayne Downtown in Indiana. The property offers two new-to-Fort Wayne restaurant concepts: Burger Bar and the city’s only open-air rooftop bar, Conner’s Rooftop. The 136-room hotel is located near Parkview Field and the Grand Wayne Convention Center.

The property features an oversized rooftop fitness center, an outdoor fireplace and patio area, and access to parking via covered breezeway. A meeting space is also available that holds up to 47 people with direct access to the outdoor patio area.

The hotel also features a hard-to-miss exterior design element—a giant-sized baseball that appears to have embedded itself into the side of the seventh floor of the building, strategically placed as if it was a home run hit from Parkview Field. Local artist Tim Parsley completed the realistic painting on the ball.

North

Grand View Lodge, Spa and Golf Resort, a historic resort and residential community in Northern Minnesota, opened the boutique hotel North as part of its $55-million expansion. The boutique hotel features 60 guestrooms; a social lobby lounge; second lobby and library; dining concept; various meeting spaces; and an amphitheater and spacious outdoor deck.

Located near the main lodge and hub of activities, North was designed by local architect Nor-Son based in nearby Brainerd and interior design firm Looney & Associates. The design is an urban take on the traditional guest lodge and a departure from the current cabin-style accommodations available at Grand View Lodge.

Cambria Hotel Milwaukee Downtown

Cambria Hotel Milwaukee Downtown opens its doors this month. The new hotel was built by Chicago development company Murphy Development Group (MDG). The hotel will be managed by Concord Hospitality; Murphy Asset Management (MAM), a subsidiary of MDG, will act as the asset manager.

Located within walking distance of the Historic Third Ward, shores of Lake Michigan, Walker’s Point, and the RiverWalk District, Cambria Hotel Milwaukee Downtown features 132 guestrooms and suites, all curated by Stan Ramaker of the Fond du Lac-based M+A Design. The hotel includes 77 king rooms, 50 double queen rooms, and five elegant suites, each featuring wood floors, spa-style bathrooms with Bluetooth mirrors, Beautyrest St. Pierre Plush Mattresses and televisions with Smart Television technology capabilities.

Cambria Hotel Milwaukee Downtown includes 1,300 sq. ft. of multifunctional meeting space, a first-floor indoor pool, state-of-the art fitness center, and intimate outdoor courtyard.

TownePlace Suites by Marriott Janesville

Marriott International’s TownePlace Suites by Marriott Janesville, Wisconsin is now open for business. The 87-room hotel is owned and managed by Kinseth Hospitality.

Hotel amenities include an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center open 24 hours per day, a meeting room, an outdoor fire pit, laundry facilities, complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel and on-site business services, including copying, faxing and printing.