Choice Hotels' Ascend Hotel Collection Welcomes The Giacomo Hotel With Its Breathtaking Views Of Niagara Falls

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May 29, 2015, 10:02 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Ascend Hotel Collection from Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's leading hotel companies, announced the addition of the historic Giacomo Hotel, located within walking distance of Niagara Falls, to its rapidly expanding and notable list of distinctive upscale properties.

The Giacomo, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member

"The Ascend Hotel Collection's tagline is Let the Destination Reach You. We are so proud to have the Giacomo join the portfolio as it offers guests the perfect mix of local charm and hospitality in a world class travel destination," said Neil Cantor, head of the Ascend Hotel Collection at Choice Hotels.

The historic and architectural significance of The Giacomo building represents an enduring link between Niagara Falls' past and the promise of the future. The Giacomo (formerly the United Office building) was completed in 1929 and is a distinctive example of art deco architecture uniquely blended with a Mayan revival motif. At 20 stories, The Giacomo is one of the tallest structures in downtown Niagara Falls, offering breathtaking views of the rapids, the gorge and the Canadian skyline. In 2006, the building was listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

"We couldn't be more excited to become part of the Ascend Hotel Collection and begin our affiliation with other likeminded and distinctive boutique properties," said William Paladino, manager of First Street Group, the owner of the Giacomo and CEO of Ellicott Development Company, the hotel management company of the Giacomo. "The ability to retain our local character, style, flavor and the guest experience we offer with the backing of the Choice Hotels and Ascend Hotel Collection reservations system and customer services will solidify our position as a premier destination hotel in Niagara Falls."

Ascend Hotel Collection is an international portfolio of independent hotels that uniquely reflect the character of its locale. Launching in 2008, the Ascend Hotel Collection membership program pioneered the concept of "the soft brand" and has been among the fastest-growing brands in the upscale hotel segment, increasing its system size by 200% since 2010. For guests, Ascend hotels deliver a richly local experience. For hoteliers, the great appeal of Ascend is that the Collection allows operators to maintain their individuality while giving them access to the firepower of Choice Hotels International's robust distribution system, industry leading Choice Privileges loyalty rewards program and support from a vast network of other member hotels around the globe.

An Ideal Location

Niagara Falls, NY has nurtured several significant developments in recent years, of which The Giacomo was one of the first. Just across the street is a beautiful and large conference center that caters to several national conventions. The Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, located around the corner, is an excellent educational center and a welcoming common area for visitors with its popular restaurant, deli and bakery. And, of course, there is the main attraction, the awe-inspiring Natural World Wonder, Niagara Falls. In recent years, the Niagara Parks Commission has undertaken a number of significant improvements to the park aimed to enhance walking, hiking, biking and viewing of the falls.

A Rich and Relaxing Guest Experience

The Giacomo has 41 rooms to accommodate all kinds of visitors, ranging from beautifully appointed rooms to opulent suites. All of the spacious rooms boast pillow top mattresses with sumptuous linens, a work desk with wired or wireless internet, refrigerators, irons and ironing boards, and are accented with luxurious European decor. Guests have a choice of rooms with a hot tub or fireplace or both. Each guest room has a coffee maker with complimentary coffees and tea, bottled water, chocolate truffles, and a guest favorite, the nightly delivery to their rooms of freshly baked cookies.

Every overnight getaway includes European style continental breakfast, complimentary valet parking, concierge butler service and a fitness center which is open 24 hours. The Sky View Lounge on the 19th floor of The Giacomo is also open 24 hours and provides a breathtaking view of the Niagara River rapids, the gorge, and the Niagara Falls, Canada skyline. The Giacomo is the perfect blend of comfort, style and sophistication.

Ascend Hotel Collection®: let the destination reach you.
The best travel experiences can't be found in a guidebook. That's why the one-of-a-kind, upscale properties in the Ascend Hotel Collection® membership program let you focus on your destination in a whole new way. Each Ascend® hotel is a unique reflection of its local community, with staff committed to sharing their insider knowledge of the places, moments and experiences that makes each destination special. You'll discover hidden treasures off the beaten path, and find the true local flavor you crave.

About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc.^® (NYSE: CHH) is one of the world's largest lodging companies. With more than 6,300 hotels franchised in more than 35 countries and territories, we represent more than 500,000 rooms around the globe. As of March 31, 2015, 615 hotels were in our development pipeline. Our company's Ascend Hotel Collection^®, Cambria® hotels & suites, Comfort Inn^®, Comfort Suites^®, Sleep Inn^®, Quality^®, Clarion^®, MainStay Suites^®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel^®, Econo Lodge^® and Rodeway Inn^® brands provide a spectrum of lodging choices to meet guests' needs. With more than 22 million members and counting, check out our Choice Privileges® rewards program to see how you can reap the benefits of being a member of the Choice Hotels^® family. Visit us at www.choicehotels.com for more information.