New Embassy Suites opens in Berkeley Heights, N.J.

The Embassy Suites Berkeley Heights opened its doors as the first phase of a multi-year development project in Central New Jersey. Located in Connell Corporate Park, the new-build hotel will bring 176 suites, a restaurant and meeting and event spaces to an underserved market in the Tri-state area.

“With its spacious suites, distinctive new restaurant, meeting venues, upcoming programming, and great location just 15 miles from Newark Airport and a close train ride away from New York City, we’re confident that Embassy Suites Berkeley Heights will be a welcomed new addition to the Central New Jersey hotel scene,” Ian Brodsky, GM of the Embassy Suites Berkeley Heights, said in a statement. “We’re excited to open our doors to all travelers seeking a one-of-a-kind hotel experience.”

The hotel is part of a new generation of Embassy Suites, including a new interior layout and a high-design look handled by Puccini Group and Paradigm Design Group. Owned by the Connell family—who at one point was the largest non-governmental rice and sugar distributor in the world—the property pays homage to their past as well as the rich history of New Jersey through design touches including Thomas Edison-inspired wallpaper and light fixtures, a private dining room modeled after company founder Grover Cleveland Connell’s office and more. Taking inspiration from the native colors of New Jersey, the interior includes hues of warm grey and taupe with bright pops of yellow and subtle hints of purple, representing the state bird (American Goldfinch) and the state flower (Viola Sororia), respectively.

The 176 spacious suites have grain tile flooring, queen-sized sofa beds and oversized work spaces and come in categories including king, double-queen and studio, in addition to two VIP Connell Suites.

A central point of Embassy Suites Berkeley Heights is the 18,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, designed for businesses, weddings and other social groups. All event spaces are named after the Connell family’s brands of rice, ranging from the expansive 5,300-square-foot American Beauty Ballroom to smaller meeting rooms: Falcon, Crescent, and Eagle I and II. Other spaces include the Trade Winds Boardroom, including a modern library, hues of blue and cognac and an oversized table. The Crescent, a glass-enclosed Solarium accented with crystal chandeliers, 20-foot ceilings and surrounded by an English garden with an adjacent outdoor patio will open this fall.    

Unique to Embassy Suites Berkeley Heights is American Brasserie, Grain & Cane—another nod to the Connell family’s history in the rice and sugar industry. The industrial warehouse-style space includes indoor seating, as well as a glass garage door that opens to an al fresco dining area with heat lamps and fire pits. An affiliated food truck, Grain & Cane GastroTruck, can be used for unique special events and community celebrations.

Other hotel amenities include a full-service Starbucks with a library lounge, complimentary made-to-order breakfast, a nightly Manager’s reception offering appetizers and beverages, electric car charging ports, an indoor saltwater pool and 24-hour Fitness Center with Technogym equipment. The Grove at Connell Center is a short walk from the property and offers jogging trails, an amphitheater and outdoor space for gatherings, team-building activities, corporate retreats and other special events.