Cambria Suites Expands Into North Dakota

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, and KAJ Hospitality today celebrate the groundbreaking of a new four-story, 103-room hotel, which will be connected to the future 15,000-square-foot conference center in West Fargo, one of North Dakota's fastest growing communities. KAJ Hospitality, led by the father and son development, ownership and management team of Kevin and Aaron Johnson, has corporate offices in Sioux Falls, S.D., Mitchell, S.D. and Wichita, Kansas, and will be the owner/developer of both greatly anticipated real estate development projects.

"Cambria Suites is experiencing impressive expansion throughout the country because Cambria Suites hotels meet the demand for stylish, upscale hotels offering tremendous value," said Michael Murphy, senior vice president of upscale brands for Choice Hotels International. "Right now, West Fargo is seeing tremendous economic growth and that's attracting major companies and the region's top talent. So a hotel which understands what these businesses and travelers need is essential."

North Dakota is the fastest growing state in the United States, developing at nearly three times the national rate. The city of West Fargo reflects that momentum. In 2012, the city issued 480% more commercial building permits than the previous year.  Further, last year's city-wide growth rate was 72.9%.

The hotel and convention center project represents an estimated investment of more than $17 million and approximately 325 jobs to the greater West Fargo area. The Cambria Suites West Fargo will be the emerging upscale brand's first North Dakota property and is scheduled to open in the spring of 2014 at 19th Ave. East and Beaton Drive.

"We are proud to bring extensive marketplace knowledge and first-hand experience as a hotel operator in greater West Fargo to this new Cambria Suites hotel," said Kevin Johnson, president and chief executive officer of KAJ Hospitality. "For years, there has been a need in West Fargo for a mixed-use conference center space such as what we will now develop. With Cambria Suites as the hotel anchor of our conference center, we are filling an important need for this rapidly expanding city. And we are confident we have the perfect combination to achieve great success as a business as well as members of the West Fargo community."

Building on solid development momentum, the Cambria Suites brand made hotel history by holding ground breaking ceremonies for three hotel projects in the New York market within 24 hours last December, combining an approximate $141 million investment and the creation of nearly 1,000 jobs. Since then, the brand has commenced construction nearby the Washington, D.C. Convention Center, just outside Dallas, Texas and announced major development agreements in other cities as well as a joint venture with its first institutional investor, Fillmore Capital Partners and its affiliates, to develop multiple Cambria Suites properties. Cambria Suites Miami is scheduled to open this fall. 

The West Fargo hotel will deliver the consistently high level of style at an equally attractive price guests have come to count on with this brand. 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). As of today, many Cambria Suites hotels are ranked #1 and #2 in their respective markets on TripAdvisor.

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.   

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

About KAJ Hospitality
Founded in 1993 by President and CEO Kevin Johnson; family owned KAJ Hospitality has transformed from a single hotel company in South Dakota into a multi-unit hospitality development and management company throughout the Midwest. KAJ's current footprint includes hotels already owned and projects in planning or under development in Fargo, ND, Sioux Falls, SD, Omaha, NE & Wichita, KS.  KAJ is keenly focused on development and management in the select service and upscale segments of the hotel industry. Over the course of the past year KAJ has made a concerted effort to move into these segments and cluster our properties together in the same markets to maximize efficiencies and economies of scale.For more information go to www.kajhospitality.com.

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.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.