CHICAGO—Ascend Hotel Collection has added Hotel Blake Chicago as the milestone 100th domestic addition to its list of upscale hotels. The news of the brand’s growth was released at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles.
Located in the 18th-century Morton and Duplicator building in the historic Printers Row at 500 S. Dearborn St., Hotel Blake Chicago features 162 guestrooms with 12-ft. vaulted ceilings and large windows. The hotel offers a 24-hour fitness center and other amenities, including business meeting and event spaces, the Bar Blake and the Meli Cafe. Hotel Blake Chicago is located in South Loop, and is within walking distance of State Street.
“Hotel Blake Chicago offers guests a unique experience that reflects the sophisticated character of Chicago, while providing the highest standards of hospitality. These are the hallmarks of the Ascend Hotel Collection,” stated Mike Murphy, SVP, upscale brands, Choice Hotels International.
After debuting in 2008 with just 17 properties, by the end of 2012 the Ascend Hotel Collection provided 57 domestic hotels. As of December 31, 2013, that number surged to 121 hotels worldwide as the Ascend brand expanded its footprint into new territories.
Noteworthy additions to the Ascend Hotel Collection in 2013 included Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, the first hotel to open in the Downtown area in three decades and the largest member of the Ascend properties with 634 rooms; and The Equus, an equestrian themed retreat located in the upper west side of Waikiki in Honolulu.
The Ascend Hotel Collection also experienced substantial growth in the international market over the past year, opening the Lindenwarrah at Milawa hotel in Australia and expanding into Ireland with the gibson hotel in Dublin. With these additions, the total number of Ascend Hotel Collection properties has grown to 121 throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Central America, Australia and the Caribbean.