DESIGN
Nashville ’ s lobby check-in
relies on natural sources as well as good task fixtures . Rooms tend to be roomier than average — typically 350 square feet . In high-rent locations those standards are flexible , but that spa bathroom is a must , so a site like New York ’ s Times Square requires some creative thinking . In that instance , bathrooms were bumped out 6 inches into the guestroom .
The lobby bar is front and center , supplying a buzz , a place to engage and a shot of local color . Each Cambria spotlights locally sourced craft beers along with cocktails and fresh , casual fare . Standard items include a margarita , a breakfast burrito and the Cambria American Angus Burger , but otherwise menus reflect local specialties and brands . So the Scottsdale , Arizona , Cambria spotlights Southwestern specialties , while in New Orleans it ’ s packed with Cajun and Creole classics . Some serve free breakfast ; others do not . M Culinary consulting chef Michael DeMaria weighs in on kitchen and menu decisions .
“ If our guests don ’ t have time to get out of the hotel , they can at least go to the bar and feel like they ’ re having a local experience ,” Cannon says .
Depending on the location , Cambrias can support multiple F & B outlets . The Philadelphia property has spaces in the lobby , on the roof and on the lower level ; others have a three-meal bar / restaurant space . “ We work with the owners to determine whether it will be a shining star or an amenity for the guests ,” Haggerty explains .
Lobby areas , like this one in Scottsdale , Arizona , aim for a sense of place .
Graphic elements of skulls and fleurs-de-lis , along with neon signs , capture the local flavor in New Orleans .
SHARED DNA Cambria Hotels got off to a sluggish start after its 2007 launch , quickly followed by the recession . But its trajectory steepened in recent years . As of June , 37 Cambrias were open — 10 debuted in 2017 — and some 80 projects were in development . Many current owners have committed to multiple projects . Most recently , Newport Beach , California-based Stratus Development Partners agreed to build five more on top of three it had committed to in California and Florida , and two were announced in South Carolina .
New Orleans ’ lobby area
36 hotelsmag . com July / August 2018