By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on January 31, 2014
Choice Hotels International, Inc. one of the world's largest hotel companies, announced it has signed an agreement with franchise partner Realcom, Inc., a Genesis Partners, Limited Partners related company, to develop a new Cambria Suites and Conferencing Facility in Bridgeport, West Virginia. The upscale 121-room Cambria Suites property will be located within the Marketplace at Charles Pointe and is expected to start construction in early 2014.
The estimated hotel and conference center project cost is $25 million.
“We continue to experience strong momentum in bringing the Cambria Suites experience to new travelers in new markets, and we’re excited to announce our new hotel at Charles Pointe,” said Michael Murphy, senior vice president, Upscale Brands, Choice Hotels International.
The Genesis Partners team, led by Mark Dellana, Executive Director of Development, has over 85 years of combined extensive development experience and possesses a strong presence in the regional market. Genesis Partners and its related companies have ownership interest in four hotels in the Bridgeport market. Operations for the new Cambria Suites will be managed by CP Hospitality, LLC, a seasoned first class hospitality management company that manages hotels, restaurants and conference facilities.
“The addition of the upscale Cambria Brand adds another dimension to the Lodging and Convention offerings in Bridgeport. Part of our five year plan has been to expand our current conference and meetings footprint (from 15,000+ square feet to 40,000+ square feet) at Charles Pointe. Being selected as the site for the new Cambria Suites brought the plan together,” said Scott Duarte, Managing Director for CP Hospitality. “This amount of conference and lodging space in one easily accessible location along Interstate 79 truly makes Harrison County and North Central West Virginia a meetings and convention destination.”
Jamie Corton, the managing member of Genesis Partners and the president and co-founder of Realcom, Inc., is also pleased.
“We are excited about our affiliation with the Choice Hotels Cambria Suites brand,” said Jamie Corton, president and co-founder of Realcom, Inc. “Our companies have been conducting business in North Central West Virginia for over 70 years and I believe the Cambria Suites property will make a great addition to this market, attracting many leisure and business travelers. The Cambria Suites will be situated in the heart of our Market District within walking distance to retail, restaurants, business and residential areas. Direct access to trails and parks nearby allow you to relax and leisurely enjoy every hour of your stay here at Charles Pointe.”
The addition will also serve as a boost to travelers who stop in Bridgeport. Thousands of individuals spend a day – or several days – in the city during their travels.
“We look forward to expanding our hospitality and conference offering within Bridgeport. The Cambria property fits very nicely with the strategic conference and lodging expansion initiative of our Visitors Center,” Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitors Bureau President Drew Pomeroy said.
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 Charles Pointe 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 gourmet coffee and tea with a hot breakfast buffet; and Refresh, a state-of-the-art fitness center. These fine amenities combined with over 25,000 square feet of attached state of the art conference and meeting space provides for the ultimate lodging, meeting, and conferencing experience.
