ROCKVILLE, Md.—Choice Hotels International, one of the world’s largest hotel companies, and KAJ Hospitality announced the groundbreaking of a new four-story, 103-room hotel, which will be connected to the future 15,000-square-foot conference center in West Fargo, N.D. KAJ Hospitality, led by the father and son development, ownership and management team of Kevin and Aaron Johnson, will be the owner/developer of both real estate development projects.
“Cambria Suites is experiencing impressive expansion throughout the country because Cambria Suites hotels meet the demand for stylish, upscale hotels offering tremendous value,” said Michael Murphy, senior vice president of upscale brands for Choice Hotels International. “Right now, West Fargo is seeing tremendous economic growth and that’s attracting major companies and the region’s top talent. So a hotel which understands what these businesses and travelers need is essential.”
North Dakota is developing at nearly three times the national rate. The city of West Fargo reflects that momentum. In 2012, the city issued 480 percent more commercial building permits than the previous year. Further, last year’s city-wide growth rate was 72.9 percent.
The hotel and convention center project represents an estimated investment of more than $17 million and approximately 325 jobs to the greater West Fargo area. The Cambria Suites West Fargo will be the emerging upscale brand’s first North Dakota property and is scheduled to open in the spring of 2014.
“We are proud to bring extensive marketplace knowledge and first-hand experience as a hotel operator in greater West Fargo to this new Cambria Suites hotel,” said Kevin Johnson, president and chief executive officer of KAJ Hospitality. “For years, there has been a need in West Fargo for a mixed-use conference center space such as what we will now develop. With Cambria Suites as the hotel anchor of our conference center, we are filling an important need for this rapidly expanding city. And we are confident we have the perfect combination to achieve great success as a business as well as members of the West Fargo community.”
All Cambria Suites hotels are new-construction and the brand offers all-suite rooms that include separate areas to work and rest, two flat-screen LCD televisions and MediaHub plug-and-play technology. Free high-speed wired and wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel so that guests can stay connected.
