Cambria Suites project back on track
As hotel occupancy in the Northwest suburbs continues to rebound, the construction of Schaumburg's 26th hotel is moving forward, village officials said this week.
Cambria Suites, a business-oriented hotel chain, will be built at the northwest corner of Roselle Road and I-90. The 93,000-square-foot building will likely begin construction in the coming months, according to officials.
Originally approved by the village board in 2006, the project has seen numerous delays due to concerns over finances and the overall market.
Schaumburg officials now say Cambria Suites has gotten bank approval, allowing the project to move forward.
With zoning permits already approved, the company must obtain work permits in order to begin construction. The hotel is expected to be ready for guests by 2012.
The construction of Cambria Suites contrasts the recent closure of the Sheraton in Arlington Heights and the bankruptcy filing of Wheeling's Westin hotel.
“The strength of having the convention center in town is what benefited the hotel industry (in Schaumburg), said Village President Al Larson.
The hotel's revival appears to follow recent improvements in the local hotel industry.
“Overall the market we represent in the Northwest suburbs has seen some encouraging recovery in the past year, said Dave Parulo, interim president for the Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau.
Since January, the average hotel occupancy in the Northwest suburbs has risen from 38 percent to 61 percent, Parulo added.
Owned by Choice International Hotels, the second largest hotel company in the nation, Cambria Suites is the highest of its 10 brands.
With only 22 hotels in the country, the new Cambria Suites project will be the first of its kind in Illinois. Featuring 137 rooms, Cambria Suites will compete with other full service hotels in the area such as the Hilton Garden Inn, Hyatt Place, and the Renaissance Hotel, which is connected to the Schaumburg convention center.
Village officials also said a Texas Roadhouse, a Western-theme steak restaurant, will be built with the Cambria Suites project.