NATIONAL REPORT—From historic skyscrapers to Hill Country, brands are adding hotels to their portfolios in Texas.
Cambria Hotel Houston Downtown Convention Center Opens
Choice Hotels International Inc.’s Cambria Hotels brand has entered the Houston market with the opening of Cambria Hotel Houston Downtown Convention Center. The 21-story, 226-room hotel is an adaptive-reuse of the iconic Great Southwest Building, formerly known as the Petroleum Building, and marks the brand’s fifth Texas location. The hotel is among seven Cambria locations expected to open this summer in top-tier markets across the country—including the Cambria Hotel Richardson – Dallas—together representing over 1,200 upscale rooms.
The hotel is close to the George R. Brown Convention Center and Minute Maid Park, the home stadium of the city’s professional baseball team. The hotel is also near major corporations and the region’s largest employers, including Chevron Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and United Airlines, as well as the city’s many entertainment, dining, culture, history and arts offerings, including the Theater District, Avenida Houston, Main St. and the Historic Market Square neighborhood.
“With more than a dozen Cambria hotels open or in development in the state, we have big plans to expand in popular urban markets across Texas,” said Janis Cannon, SVP, upscale brands, Choice Hotels. “Cambria is rapidly expanding in the Lone Star state’s biggest markets—and Houston tops that list as one of the nation’s largest, most diverse cities.”
WoodSpring Adds Two
WoodSpring Suites, franchised by Choice Hotels, has opened WoodSpring Suites Dallas Plano Central Legacy Drive and WoodSpring Suites San Antonio Lackland Sea World.
“Texas’ booming economy makes it the perfect place to expand the WoodSpring Suites brand, especially in-demand markets like Plano and San Antonio,” said Ralph Thiergart, VP and GM, extended-stay brands, Choice Hotels. “Plano is one of the best-performing cities in the nation for job and economic growth, according to the Milken Institute, while San Antonio’s thriving economy is home to six Fortune 500 companies.”
WoodSpring Suites Dallas Plano Central Legacy – Plano, Texas is a 122-room hotel that’s close to major corporations like Frontier Communications, Peloton, State Farm Insurance, PepsiCo Inc., Toyota Motor North America, Boeing, Liberty Mutual, and the Collin College Spring Creek Campus. The hotel, which was developed by Four VP GP Houston Inc., also provides extended-stay guests access to dining and retail options, like the Collin Creek Mall, Fairfield Town Center, Cottonwood Creek Village, and Allen Premium Outlets.
WoodSpring Suites San Antonio Lackland Sea World – San Antonio, Texas is a 123-room hotel that’s close to Valero Energy’s headquarters, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and the Northwest Vista College. It is owned by New Era LLC and is located within a short drive of popular leisure destinations, such as Sea World, Ingram Park Mall, and Gateway Hills Golf Course.
Marriott Opens Dual-Brand in Frisco, TX
Marriott International Inc. will open a dual-branded 150-room AC Hotel and 150-suite Residence Inn property in Frisco, TX, this week. The hotels are owned and managed by NewcrestImage.
The properties will share some amenities, including an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center and 3,068 sq. ft. of meeting space to accommodate functions of up to 200 people. Each hotel will feature its own lobby, lounge, dining area and business center.
Located in Frisco Station, within walking distance to The Star in Frisco and the Ford Center, the dual-brand property offers guests access to the Texas Sculpture Garden at Hall Park, the National Videogame Museum and Toyota Stadium – home of Major League Soccer club FC Dallas.
The Bevy Hotel Boerne, a DoubleTree by Hilton Arrives
The Bevy Hotel Boerne, a DoubleTree by Hilton, recently opened. The five-story, 120-room new-build hotel is located in the heart of Texas Hill Country, close to downtown Boerne’s Hill Country Mile and nearby wineries, state parks and the city of San Antonio.
The modern hotel features guestrooms and suites with Texas-inspired décor and fixtures and finishes that are entirely American-made. Mill work throughout the hotel spans from the ceilings to the furniture and its bars within are handmade and installed by local craftsmen.
Amenities at the hotel include The Bevy Provisions Company, a culinary center for Texas Hill Country tastes and flavors, and 15,000 sq. ft. of meetings and events space.
The property is managed by Phoenix Hospitality Group LLC on behalf of Boerne Hotel Ltd.