Ascend Collection for Choice Hotels International is pleased to announce four new member properties for the third quarter of 2010. (United States)
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Ascend Collection for Choice Hotels International is pleased to announce four new member properties for the third quarter of 2010. (United States)
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States - Industry economy -
New brands / Affiliations
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2010-11-09
These new members are: Dove Creek Lodge, Key Largo, the first Ascend Collection hotel in the Florida Keys; Ascot Suites, Morro Bay, on the scenic Central California Coast; Hotel Alex Johnson, Rapid City, S.D.; and the Royale Caribbean Resort & Spa, which is under construction and scheduled to open in March, 2011, on the Eastern Caribbean island of Anguilla.
Ascend Collection is a network of independent upscale hotels in major business and leisure markets in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. The collection appeals to the growing number of travelers who like to discover high-service hotels that provide a true taste of the local culture. To help travelers in the lodging selection, the properties fall into one of three categories: Historic, Boutique or Unique. The new Ascend Collection hotels are:
• Dove Creek Lodge
Through the end of the year, Dove Creek’s nightly rates start at $129 during the week. Some blackout dates apply. This oceanfront boutique hotel borders John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, home to the largest living coral reef in the United States. Inspired by the lore of Hemingway’s Caribbean hideaways, Dove Creek Lodge has 21 newly renovated guestrooms, including spacious ocean-view lodge rooms and one- and two-bedroom luxury suites. Each room features Internet access, tropical furnishings and a private balcony overlooking colorful gardens or the turquoise waters of the Florida Keys.
Visitors enjoy private boat slips, an oceanfront pool and hot tub, and a sandy beach. Next door, Snapper’s Waterfront Saloon and Restaurant is a favorite with travelers and locals for its fresh seafood and live music. The casual Dove Creek Lodge invites guests to bring their own boat or let the hotel arrange a deep-sea fishing excursion with an experienced captain. For world-class snorkeling and diving, the Keys’ clear waters are an ecological wonderland with vibrant coral reefs and scores of rainbow-colored fish.
• Ascot Suites
At Ascot Suites, rates start at $109 per night through the end of the year. Some blackout dates apply. The 32-room boutique hotel is nestled on California's Central Coast halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles in the heart of historic Morro Bay. Located one block from the waterfront, Ascot Suites puts guests within walking distance to the area’s lively restaurants, nightlife, shops and galleries.
Elegant suites feature English country décor. Some rooms also have fireplaces, whirlpool baths and private balconies providing breathtaking views of Morro Bay. Among the hotel’s amenities are free Wi-Fi as well as complimentary continental breakfast and evening wine tastings. At Ascot Suites, options for nearby recreation and entertainment include: wine tasting tours of the acclaimed San Luis Obispo County Wine Country; hiking, sailing, fishing and bird watching in Morro Bay State Park; boating and whale watching tours; cultural festivals; and golf courses with spectacular Pacific views.
• Hotel Alex Johnson
Located in historic downtown Rapid City, Hotel Alex Johnson is less than a 30-minute drive from Mount Rushmore and within walking distance of lively restaurants, boutique shops, museums and art galleries. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Alex Johnson has hosted six U.S. presidents and was featured in the Alfred Hitchcock classic “North by Northwest.”
This grand hotel opened in 1928, conceived by its founder, railroad executive Alex Johnson, as “The Showplace of the West" and a tribute to the Lakota Sioux Indians of South Dakota. A two-year multi-million-dollar makeover, completed in the spring, 2010, has restored this property to its original grandeur but with 21st-century comforts. Stepping into the two-story lobby, guests find an iPod-controlled baby grand player piano, Native American carvings and a chandelier, made of war spears, that has hung from decorative rafters for more 80 years.
This unique hotel houses 143 elegant guestrooms and suites outfitted with flat-screen high-definition televisions, pillow-top mattresses, iPod stations and free Wi-Fi. Among the onsite amenities: Paddy O'Neill's Irish Pub, the country’s biggest Seattle's Best coffee shop, a state-of-the-art fitness center, business center, meeting space and banquet rooms.
• Royale Caribbean Resort & Spa
Set amidst lush tropical gardens on the exclusive island of Anguilla, Royale Caribbean Resort will house 80 guestrooms, each with breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea and the mountains of neighboring St. Maarten. This luxurious boutique hotel is slated to open in March 2011. Plans call for three restaurants, a 10,000 square-foot spa, stretches of pristine beachfront, gift shop, tennis courts and a Caribbean-inspired conch-shaped pool. With 28,000 square feet of meeting space, the Royale Caribbean will be home to one of the Caribbean’s largest wedding venues and convention facilities.
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