Choice Hotels Became One of the Biggest Upscale Hotel Players | IHIF New York,2026 | Mark D

Welcome to an exclusive interview with Mark Shalala, Senior Vice President of Development for Choice Hotels Upscale Brands — based in Greater DC — to discover how this 85 year old hospitality powerhouse is aggressively transforming into a major upscale player — with 800+ hotels, 120,000 rooms and 32% franchise growth — through two distinctly different brands and a powerful Radisson Americas acquisition that is completely changing the upscale development landscape! 🎯 What's covered in this video: ✅ How Choice Hotels — with 85 years of hospitality experience — is aggressively expanding into the upscale hotel segment ✅ Why their 800+ upscale hotels and 120,000 rooms — growing at 14% year over year — proves the upscale strategy is working ✅ How Cambria Hotels — all new construction with locally inspired design — is pioneering the upscale select service segment ✅ Why Ascend Collection — the industry's first soft brand — is hitting 500 units with 25 to 30 new projects added every year ✅ How the Radisson Americas acquisition added three powerful upscale options — Radisson, Radisson Blue and Radisson Individuals ✅ Why today's guests want local authentic experiences — and how Cambria was way ahead of the curve on this trend ✅ How allowing developers to add their own design spin — weaving local factors into hotel design — drives premium guest willingness to pay ✅ Why Cambria and Ascend franchise signings grew 32% — with developers returning for second third and fourth projects ✅ How Cambria's 77 open hotels, 50 in pipeline and 12 under construction prove the brand's incredible momentum ✅ Why choosing the right brand for the right travel occasion — from urban luxury to highway comfort — is central to Choice Hotels strategy 🔍 Whether you're a hotel developer, franchise investor, upscale brand enthusiast, boutique hotel owner or planning your next hospitality investment, this video is packed with insights on Choice Hotels upscale expansion, Cambria Hotels development, Ascend Collection franchise, Radisson Blue and the exciting future of upscale hotel development in 2026! 📍 Interview with Choice Hotels 2026 🔔 Subscribe for more upscale hotel development insights, franchise opportunity updates and US hospitality expansion news! About Travel And Tour World: Travel And Tour World is a global travel media platform covering travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation, MICE, cruise, and luxury travel, with readership across 195 countries. [Choice Hotels 2026, Cambria Hotels, Ascend Collection hotels, upscale hotel development, Radisson Blue hotels, Choice Hotels franchise, boutique hotel franchise, upscale hotel brands USA, hotel soft brand, independent hotel franchise, Radisson Americas, hotel development pipeline, local authentic hotel, upscale select service, hotel franchise growth, Radisson Individuals, hotel new construction, Choice Hotels upscale] #choicehotels2026 #cambriahotels #ascendcollection #upscalehoteldevelopment #radissonbluehotels