Cambria Suites Oklahoma City & Suenos Hospitality Named Full Service Hotel of the Year by the Latino Hotel Association

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Dec 13, 2011, 09:00 ET

SILVER SPRING, Md. and OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cambria Suites hotel of Oklahoma City, owned by Suenos Hospitality, was recently named the 2011 Full Service Hotel of the Year by the Latino Hotel Association as part of the organization's annual Estrella Awards.

As the owner of the winning property, John Lopez, owner of Suenos Hospitality LLC, was present to accept the award at a recent ceremony. Mr. Lopez's Cambria Suites Oklahoma City hotel was named as this year's full service hotel award recipient due to the overwhelmingly positive guest comments for the property. The hotel was selected from among seven other nominated properties in its segment.

"We are proud and honored to be recognized with this award, which was made possible by the outstanding team we have in place at our Oklahoma City property — the entire staff shares this award for its unwavering commitment to customer service each and every day," said Mr. Lopez. "From the moment our guests enter the hotel, they are treated as family — we want them to think of Cambria Suites as their home away from home."

"This recognition for Mr. Lopez and the Cambria Suites Oklahoma City is truly a testament to the high caliber of this brand and its developers across the board," said Brian Parker, vice president of emerging markets and new business development for Choice Hotels International, Inc., franchisor of the Cambria Suites brand. "At Choice Hotels, we are strongly committed to the development of Cambria Suites as a brand as well as to our ongoing efforts in increasing the presence of Hispanic hoteliers throughout our system and in the industry overall."

The Estrella Awards were announced by the Latino Hotel Association, with partners Freeman Pulse, at the organization's annual convention in Las Vegas last month. The awards are the LHA's top honors bestowed upon the best in the hospitality industry. According to the organization, they serve as a constant incentive within the top national and international executives in hotel and property management companies.

"John's early success in the lodging industry is attributed to his vast business knowledge and surrounding himself with hotel industry experts such as Choice Hotels International and HP Properties," said Angela Gonzalez-Rowe, president of the Latino Hotel Association. "The Latino Hotel & Restaurant Association hopes to gain the interest of more Latinos in the United States to closely look at hotel investments as a way to diversify their investment portfolios and become actively involved in the ownership and management of hotels."

Mr. Lopez, former chairman of Lopez Foods, the nation's largest Hispanic meat manufacturer, is one of the country's most well-recognized and admired Hispanic businessmen, having received numerous awards and recognitions, including Hispanic Business magazine's coveted "Entrepreneur of the Year."

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. There are currently 18 properties open across the country.

About Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) franchises more than 6,100 hotels, representing more than 490,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories. As of September 30, 2011, 430 hotels were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 35,000 rooms, and 94 hotels, representing approximately 8,700 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 serve guests worldwide. In addition, via its Ascend Collection membership program, travelers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean have upscale lodging options at historic, boutique and unique hotels.

Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Web site, which may be accessed at http://www.choicehotels.com.

Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and Ascend Collection are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.