Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
A new Country Inn & Suites is now open at Westgate Shopping Center. This is the second Asheville hotel to open this year, by my count, and adds 94 new rooms to what’s available to visitors.. The new Hyatt on Haywood Street downtown recently opened, adding another 140 rooms to the mix. (Late last year, the Biltmore Estate opened its second hotel on estate grounds.)
Asheville is in the midst of a hotel building boom, with most of the action happening downtown. (Note: The number of available rooms downtown is expected to double; also, the developer of the Country Inn & Suites, Tony Fraga, is building a new downtown hotel at the corner of Page and Battery Park avenues. ) Local tourism officials are predicting that a total of about 1,700 new hotel rooms will come online over the next three years. That’s worrisome to hotel operators, who fear that their occupancy rates, and the amount they can charge per room, will drop as the supply increases if more and more tourists don’t keep arriving in town.
Here’s the full press release on the Country Inn & Suites:
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson has opened a new hotel, Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Asheville Westgate, NC. The property is located off I-26 and I-240 at 22 Westgate Pkwy. This new-build hotel features the brand’s latest design, which includes new exterior architecture, updated interiors and guestrooms and suites that feature spa-like bathrooms.
“We are pleased to announce the opening of this newly constructed hotel, one that features our brand’s latest design elements that capture the look and feel of a modern country home,” said Jeffrey Freund, SVP, Midscale Brands, Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. “Country Inns & Suites By Carlson is committed to providing an enjoyable guest experience all delivered with a touch of home and this new hotel will do just that.”
The hotel is located a mile away from downtown and is near various attractions, including the Biltmore Estate, US Cellular Center and 40 microbreweries. The hotel offers 94 guestrooms with a variety of suites and configurations. Amenities include free high-speed internet, an indoor heated pool and outdoor veranda. Additionally, the hotel offers the brand’s signature complimentary breakfast served daily, and a free shuttle service within a five-mile radius.
“We are excited to open our doors in the city of Asheville which offers a unique mix of natural serenity and urban sophistication,” said Tony Fraga, president, FIRC-NC, the hotel’s owner. “The Be Our Guest service culture the brand is known for, as well as its modern design and amenities, will provide guests with a truly unforgettable experience.”
Related link: Photos of the new AC Hotel Asheville in downtown Asheville.
The latest hotel looks as though the designer never even looked at the site. Not one room has a window that looks at the beautiful downtown view.
Missed opportunity. Way to go.
This hotel should not have been built. It spoils the view!
New supply can’t get online soon enough for me. Prices have soared in recent years and these couple of hotel additions haven’t brought relief.
The Renaissance for a fri-mon stay in June is $332 per night. And it isn’t anything special.