Choice Hotels International’s Ascend Collection soft brand has surpassed its 500th property milestone with the opening of new hotels including The Harrison Hotel in Downtown Hollywood, Fla., and The Gould Hotel in Seneca Falls, N.Y.
The Harrison Hotel
This 95-room hotel is in Hollywood, Fla.’s historic arts, dining and entertainment district and is close to Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, Port Everglades, and Port Miami. The property has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, on-site dining, a poolside bar and 2,500 square feet of meeting space.
The Gould Hotel
In Seneca Falls, N.Y., the 48-room Gould Hotel originally opened in 1920 beside the Women’s Rights National Historical Park. The hotel has a fitness center.
“Reaching 500 open hotels is a defining milestone for Ascend Collection and a powerful reflection of the momentum across our entire upscale portfolio,” Indy Adenaw, senior vice president, upscale segment, Choice Hotels International, said in a statement. “This achievement underscores the strength of our soft brand strategy and the growing demand for distinctive, experience-driven hotels. Each Ascend Collection property is thoughtfully designed to reflect its local community while delivering the elevated amenities, flexible spaces and authentic experiences today’s upscale guests expect.”
The Collection has a pipeline of 70 properties as of March 2, in key markets across the U.S. and internationally, including anticipated openings in Flagstaff, Ariz.; Anaheim, Calif.; and Miami. The brand’s steady expansion is complemented by momentum alongside Radisson Individuals, Choice Hotels’ upper-upscale soft brand. Last year, Choice Hotels signed its first two Radisson Individuals projects in downtown Savannah, Georgia and Nashville.
Over the past year, the Collection:
- Deepened its European presence by entering Poland with its first property.
- Accelerated growth in Canada with the addition of six new properties in Québec.
- Entered into Africa with the upcoming debut of a property in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
- Expanded its presence in Latin America with the opening of its first property in Chile.
- Signed long-term distribution and master franchise agreement with SSAW Hotels & Resorts in China, which will add more than 9,500 rooms to the brand.