Meyer Jabara Hotels signed an agreement with the owners of Sandalwood Management and KPG Hotels to manage the first upscale Cambria Hotel in Baltimore. The 14-story, 144-room hotel, originally known as the American Building, was the first office building constructed following the Great Baltimore Fire in 1905. The property, located at 231 East Baltimore Street, is expected to open by the end of 2019.
This is the fourth property that MJH will operate in Baltimore. The hotel ownership and management group also owns and manages three independent hotels in the Charm City: the Admiral Fell Inn (a Historic Hotel of America owned by MJH), the Inn at Henderson’s Wharf and Pier 5 Hotel (part of the Curio Collection by Hilton). This is the first property that MJH will manage for Sandalwood Management and KPG Hotels.
“Meyer Jabara Hotels is uniquely qualified to manage this property due to their knowledge of the Cambria brand and their long presence in the Baltimore market,” Paul Patel, president of real estate investment firm Sandalwood Management, said in a statement. “There is a strong demand here for an upscale brand, and Cambria is the right choice for this market. When you combine location with the expertise that MJH is bringing to the table, we expect to optimize occupancy and ADR considering nearby demand generators such as the M&T Bank Stadium, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the Baltimore Convention Center and the city’s Inner Harbor.”
The Cambria Hotel Baltimore is near the Baltimore Convention Center, the Inner Harbor, Camden Yards, M&T Bank Stadium, Johns Hopkins University and Hospital and the National Aquarium. Major businesses in the area include Constellation Energy, Morgan Stanley, T. Rowe Price and Under Armour.
The Cambria Hotels & Suites brand sports an industrial design, business center conveniences and personalized service. The new Baltimore hotel will include flexible meeting spaces and a modern fitness center. The property will also include contemporary onsite dining, serving a menu comprised of local specialties, liquor, wine and local craft beers, as well as freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches and a barista bar.
“We are eager to inform our existing customers that Meyer Jabara Hotels now has a luxury option in Baltimore,” Rick Odorisio, MJH's SVP of operations, said in a statement. “Not only will we cross-utilize our existing resources to become a more efficient hotel operator in this market, but we will soon have three price-point options to meet even more travelers’ demands. Cambria is an ideal brand to bring to Baltimore; it’s leading edge in terms of urban design and amenities, and it has widespread appeal to Millennials.”
The conversion and repurposing of the American Building will commence in March 2018.