Cambria Hotels
Cambria Hotels is Choice Hotels International's upscale, primarily U.S. hotel franchise brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Cambria Hotels is an upscale lodging brand operated through the franchise system of Choice Hotels International. The brand was introduced in 2005 under the name Cambria Suites, making it Choice Hotels' first newly launched brand since 1996. It was designed to address the lower end of the upscale hotel segment in the United States, with an emphasis on contemporary design, larger guest rooms and suites, food-and-beverage facilities, and amenities intended to serve both business and leisure travelers. The first Cambria property opened in Boise, Idaho, in 2007. That hotel contained 199 rooms and was selected partly because of its proximity to the airport. By the end of 2007, the chain had four franchised properties, including hotels in secondary or destination-oriented markets such as the area around the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The network expanded to more than 20 properties between 2008 and 2010, with additional examples in Madison, Wisconsin; San Antonio, Texas; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Cambria's development model has relied principally on franchised hotels rather than a company-owned estate. The brand has pursued a mix of new construction and adaptive reuse. Some properties occupy or incorporate historically significant buildings, including the Great Southwest Building in Houston and space above the Oriental Theater in Chicago. Other locations have been placed in prominent urban, business, airport, and entertainment markets. This geographic and architectural variety has allowed the brand to present itself as more design-conscious and locally connected than a standardized limited-service hotel, while remaining within the operational framework of a major hotel franchisor. In 2014, Choice Hotels refreshed the chain and used the name Cambria Hotels & Suites. The repositioning introduced a new hotel prototype with features including a lobby bar, independently oriented music programming, updated furnishings, and larger bathrooms. These changes supported Cambria's effort to compete for travelers seeking a more polished experience than traditional midscale lodging while avoiding the cost structure of a full-service luxury hotel. The brand continued expanding during the mid-2010s, adding hotels in markets such as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Times Square in New York City. In 2018, it exceeded 40 open hotels when a new-build property opened in Hanover, Maryland. That hotel became the fourth Cambria location in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, near Choice Hotels' corporate base. In 2019, Cambria opened its 50th and largest franchised property, a 352-room hotel near Disneyland in Anaheim, California. As of March 31, 2025, Cambria Hotels had 76 operating locations in the United States, representing 10,344 rooms. Its competitive set includes select-service and upscale hotels such as Courtyard by Marriott and Hilton Garden Inn. Cambria's current identity rests on combining the distribution, loyalty infrastructure, and franchise capabilities of Choice Hotels with a more upscale product focused on design, social spaces, dining and beverage offerings, and flexible accommodation for business and leisure stays.
History
Choice Hotels International unveiled Cambria Suites in 2005 as an upscale hotel concept and its first new brand launch since 1996. The concept was aimed at the lower end of the upscale segment in the United States, where Choice sought to offer a more contemporary alternative to conventional midscale hotels without moving into the full-service luxury category. The initial concept emphasized larger rooms and suites, modern design, business-oriented amenities, and facilities that could support meetings and conferences. The first Cambria hotel opened in Boise, Idaho, in 2007. Its 199-room format and airport-adjacent location illustrated the brand's intended appeal to travelers combining business, air travel, and short urban stays. By the end of that year, four franchised hotels were operating. Early development also reached secondary markets and major attractions, including Bloomington, Minnesota, near the Mall of America. Between 2008 and 2010, the system grew to more than 20 hotels, with properties in markets including Madison, San Antonio, and Baton Rouge. Cambria's expansion strategy depended on franchising and allowed considerable variation in location and building form. Alongside purpose-built hotels, the brand entered historic or architecturally distinctive structures. Examples cited for the chain include the Great Southwest Building in Houston and the building above Chicago's Oriental Theater. This approach supported an identity based on local character and design rather than a completely uniform roadside prototype. In 2014, Choice Hotels reworked the brand and referred to it as Cambria Hotels & Suites. The updated prototype introduced a lobby bar, independent-style music, revised furnishings, and larger bathrooms. The changes were intended to strengthen Cambria's upscale credentials and create more communal space for guests. Food-and-beverage and meeting facilities also helped the hotels serve corporate travelers, groups, and longer leisure visits. During the middle of the 2010s, the brand added locations in increasingly prominent markets, including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Times Square in New York City. In 2018, the opening of a new-build hotel in Hanover, Maryland, took the system beyond 40 properties. The Hanover location was the fourth Cambria hotel in the Baltimore-Washington region, where Choice Hotels is headquartered. In 2019, Cambria opened its 50th and largest franchised property, a 352-room hotel near Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The chain remains a U.S.-focused Choice Hotels brand. Its competitive context includes upscale select-service chains such as Marriott's Courtyard and Hilton's Hilton Garden Inn. By March 31, 2025, Cambria had 76 hotels in operation across the United States, with 10,344 rooms. The brand's development history reflects Choice Hotels' broader effort to extend beyond traditional midscale and economy lodging through a design-led, franchise-friendly upscale offering.
- 2025
Operating system reaches 76 U.S. locations
[1]The brand reports 76 operating U.S. locations and 10,344 rooms as of March 31, 2025.
- 2019
50th and largest franchised location opens
[1]A 352-room Cambria hotel opens near Disneyland in Anaheim, California, becoming the brand's 50th and largest franchised property.
- 2018
Cambria passes 40 hotels
[1]A new-build property in Hanover, Maryland, takes the brand beyond 40 operating hotels.
- 2014
Brand refresh and name update
[1]Choice Hotels refreshes the concept and uses the name Cambria Hotels & Suites, introducing an updated prototype with a lobby bar, redesigned furnishings, music programming, and larger bathrooms.
- 2010
The brand exceeds 20 hotels
[1]Cambria expands from a small initial group of properties to more than 20 hotels, including locations in Madison, San Antonio, and Baton Rouge.
- 2007
First Cambria hotel opens in Boise
[1]The first property opens in Boise, Idaho, with 199 rooms and an airport-oriented location.
- 2007
The franchise network reaches four properties
[1]By late 2007, four franchised Cambria properties are operating, including locations in secondary and destination markets.
- 2005
Cambria Suites is launched
[1]Choice Hotels International introduces Cambria Suites as an upscale hotel brand and its first new brand since 1996.
Products and positioning
An upscale, design-oriented hotel franchise positioned between conventional midscale lodging and full-service luxury hotels, serving business and leisure travelers in U.S. urban, suburban, airport, and destination markets.
Upscale hotel brand · 2005
Cambria Hotels
Cambria Hotels is the brand's primary upscale lodging format. Properties are generally franchised and combine contemporary guest rooms or suites with public areas intended for socializing, dining, and business use. Depending on the location, hotels may include conference centers, meeting rooms, lobby bars, and food-and-beverage operations. The portfolio includes both purpose-built hotels and properties adapted from historically or architecturally distinctive buildings.
Original brand format · 2005
Cambria Suites
Cambria Suites was the original name used when Choice Hotels introduced the concept in 2005. The format focused on upscale accommodations with larger rooms and suites, business-travel amenities, and selected meeting and conference capabilities. The first hotel opened in Boise in 2007. Choice later refreshed and renamed the chain as Cambria Hotels & Suites before the brand became generally known as Cambria Hotels.
Brand decisions
2019
Cambria opens its largest hotelProduct launchBackground
The brand was continuing to expand into high-profile urban and leisure destinations.
Action taken
Cambria opened a 352-room franchised hotel near Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
Aftermath
The property became the chain's 50th location and its largest franchised hotel at the time.
2014
Cambria receives a design and identity refreshStrategyBackground
The brand needed a stronger upscale identity as it competed with established select-service hotel chains.
Action taken
Choice Hotels updated the prototype and used the name Cambria Hotels & Suites, adding a lobby bar, independent-style music, revised furnishings, and larger bathrooms.
Aftermath
The refresh reinforced Cambria's design-led positioning and its appeal to both business and leisure travelers.
2005
Choice Hotels enters the upscale segment with CambriaProduct launchBackground
Choice Hotels sought to expand beyond its established economy and midscale positioning with a new brand aimed at the lower end of the upscale U.S. hotel market.
Action taken
The company launched Cambria Suites as a franchise-oriented hotel concept emphasizing larger accommodations, modern design, business amenities, and meeting capabilities.
Aftermath
The concept opened its first hotel in 2007 and grew from four properties in late 2007 to more than 20 by 2010.
Recent events
- 2025
Cambria Hotels operates 76 U.S. locations[1]
Other
As of March 31, 2025, the brand had 76 operating hotels in the United States, totaling 10,344 rooms.
- 2019
Cambria opens its 50th and largest franchised hotel[1]
Product launch · Other
Cambria opened a 352-room property near Disneyland in Anaheim, California, marking the chain's 50th location and its largest franchised hotel at that time.
- 2018
Cambria Hotels reaches more than 40 operating hotels[1]
Other
A new-build Cambria hotel in Hanover, Maryland, helped the brand pass the 40-hotel milestone and became its fourth property in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/cambria-hotels · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled