Rendering of the Doug Pitcock '49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center
Several new hotels have recently opened near college and university campuses, and even more are in the pipeline, as developers turn their interest to towns that attract legions of loyal travelers for homecoming games, commencements, class reunions and educational events. Here's a look at six new or upcoming hotels, with meeting space, that are creating a buzz.
• The 250-room Doug Pitcock '49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, above, opened in August 2018, a mere 96 yards from Kyle Field, home of the Texas A&M football team. The eight-story hotel and conference center has 35,000 square feet of meeting space, including an 8,300-square-foot ballroom. Three on-site dining options include the Brazos-Proper Texas Kitchen, a full-service restaurant focusing on Texas flavors with a modern twist, and the Junction Market and Café, the property's grab-and-go option. But no doubt the most popular and packed venue on game day is the two-story Block T Bar with its huge television screens and a terrace that overlooks the field.
• This month Pacifica Hotels, California's largest operator of boutique properties, opened the 100-room Kinney San Luis Obispo in that city's downtown, just a mile from California Polytechnic State University (aka Cal Poly). It's the second boutique hotel for Pacifica, which opened the 68-room Kinney Venice Beach in 2016 on Washington Blvd. The hyper-local property is home to a farm-to-table eatery, Leroy's, that features dishes like Tri Tip Bahn Mi, IPA Smoked Bacon Mac N Cheese and a shiitake basil turkey burger, as well as an ever-rotating selection of the best local craft beers and Central Coast wines for building flights and tastings by the ounce. Outdoors, guests will find the Quad for more entertainment, such as giant Scrabble and Lite Brite games, laid-back lounging by fire pits, a heated pool and sundeck, and more.
The lobby of the Cambria Hotel College Park in Maryland
• Less than a month ago, the 150-room Cambria Hotel College Park opened its doors in the hometown of the University of Maryland, within walking distance of the campus. It is the second Cambria-branded property to open in the state, joining the Cambria Hotel Rockville near the headquarters of Choice Hotels, Cambria's parent company. Choice is betting the new entry, which has all the chain's indulgences from its signature cocktail hour to room service and grab-and-go breakfasts, will be a hit in this educational hub of 40,000 students.
"Whether visiting students at the University of Maryland or traveling to the Baltimore-Washington region for business, the Cambria Hotel College Park Maryland provides the upscale amenities and guilt-free, approachable indulgences today's guests desire," said Janis Cannon, senior vice president of upscale brands for Choice Hotels, in a statement announcing the hotel's official opening.
Three more campus accommodations are in the works:
• The former 215-room Loews Annapolis Hotel, now operating as the Hotel Annapolis, has been acquired by a Chicago real estate developer who has plans to renovate the property and unveil a new design that will shine a spotlight on the capital city's academic offerings, which include the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy and St. John's College.
The property, which has 20,000 square feet of meeting space, will join the Chicago-based Graduate Hotels brand, a new portfolio opening in college towns around the U.S. The 11-property brand has planted flags in key college towns such as Ann Arbor, Mich.; Berkeley, Calif., and Charlottesville, Va. Another 10 are in the pipeline, including the Annapolis hotel, to be opened by the end of 2020.
• Also getting a hotel on campus is Elon University in Elon, N.C. This past August, the university's board of trustees approved plans for an 80-room, three-story property. Tentatively known as the Inn at Elon, it will include an upscale restaurant, a bar, a ballroom, conference rooms, a fitness room and outdoor gathering spaces. According to the board of trustees, 100 percent of the hotel's net income will be earmarked for student scholarships.
"Members of our community consistently tell us they would love to stay on campus in our unique and vibrant environment," said Elon University president Connie Ledoux Book in announcing the project. "This new inn will be a tremendous asset and further enhance the experience of visiting the Elon campus."
• In Kansas last month, Wichita officials said a 110-room Hyatt Place will be developed on the grounds of Wichita State University. "We believe the combination of corporate visitors, families of students, campus-event participants and visiting athletics teams provide a strong base of guests for an on-campus hotel," said Kenneth Heinz, CEO of Lodging One Hospitality, which is developing the property. Construction on the lifestyle hotel, a brand Hyatt launched in 2007, will begin in early 2019, targeting a 2020 opening.