The Choice Hotels Cambria Suites Brand Announces Expansion in Asheville, North Carolina

ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the world's largest hotel companies, announced it has signed an agreement with franchise partner FIRC Group, Inc., to develop a new Cambria Suites in Asheville, N.C. The 141-room Cambria Suites property will be located at the intersection of Battery Park and Page Avenue and is expected to open in 2015.

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"We continue to experience strong momentum in bringing the Cambria Suites experience to new travelers in new markets, and we're excited to open our second hotel in North Carolina," said Michael Murphy, senior vice president, Upscale Brands, Choice Hotels International. "The FIRC Group is a phenomenal partner with decades of experience, so we're confident they'll deliver the Cambria experience at its best – stylish, modern comfort at a great value.

Led by Antonio Fraga, Sr., FIRC Group, Inc. has more than 30 years of extensive development experience and a strong presence in the Asheville market. The company owns the Haywood Park Hotel, along with several major retail operations and successful restaurants. 

"We are excited about our affiliation with Choice Hotels' Cambria Suites brand," said Antonio Fraga, Sr., president and founder of FIRC Group, Inc. "I have been conducting business in Asheville for 25 years, and I believe the Cambria Suites property will make a great addition to this market, which attracts so many leisure and business travelers."

The Asheville area has become a popular destination because it offers something for everyone: national and regional breweries, distilleries and wineries; award-winning independent restaurants and craft cocktail bars; zip lining and hiking throughout the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains; and historic sites like the Biltmore Estate, the largest privately owned house in the United States. Beyond the obvious attractions for leisure travelers, Asheville is a popular choice for corporations, who see the eclectic city as a perfect meeting or conference destination to drive high attendance and satisfaction.

Designed as a lifestyle hotel brand, all Cambria Suites properties are new-construction and feature a larger lobby to give guests a more social atmosphere; all-suite rooms that are larger than standard hotel rooms and include separate living, working and sleeping space; and the latest technology that allows guests to stay connected while they travel.

Like all Cambria Suites hotels, the Asheville property will feature other fine amenities such as Reflect, a contemporary bistro serving a dinner menu, liquor, wine, beer and freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches; a barista bar featuring coffee and a hot breakfast buffet; and Refresh, a state-of-the-art fitness center. This property will also boast 4,200 square feet of meeting space and a fourth floor bar with a 4,000-square-foot terrace that will be open to the public.

About FIRC Group, Inc.
Family owned and operated since 1979, FIRC Group, Inc. is a full-service commercial real estate company, with a distinguished reputation for acquisitions, development, construction, management, leasing and brokerage, as well as both commercial and residential condominium development. For more information visit www.fircgroup.com

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 and nearly 30 under development. For more information visit www.cambriasuites.com

About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,300 hotels, representing more than 500,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories. As of September 30, 2013, 371 hotels, representing more than 29,000 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States. Additionally, 84 hotels, representing approximately 7,200 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in more than 15 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. All hotels are independently owned and operated.

Choice Hotels International offers the Choice Privileges rewards program. With more than 18 million members worldwide, is one of the fastest growing hotel loyalty programs in the travel industry.

Additional corporate information can be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. web site, which may be accessed at www.choicehotels.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 Inc.

© 2013 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Choice Hotels International, Inc.