AUSTIN, TEXAS — October 2023. Pacific Hotel Austin LLC today announced the opening of Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown, a new downtown upscale hotel at 68 East Avenue adjacent to the Rainey Street Historic District. Pacific Hotel Austin developed and owns the property, which is managed by Azul Hospitality Group. The hotel is now accepting reservations and will open its doors to the public on October 19.
“Developing this project in Austin is nostalgic and emotionally satisfying for us,” said Pacific Hotel Austin Principal Andrew Wood, who co-owns the Cambria with his brother, David, who is also a Pacific Hotel Austin principal. “We attended The University of Texas for four years. As members of the UT rowing team, we practiced on Lady Bird Lake twice daily for four years. We grew to love this city, and that’s what drove us to develop here; it feels like home.”
“Austin has always been an early trendsetter and adaptor of innovation,” said Pacific Hotel Austin Co-Principal David S. Wood. “New brands and venues thrive here; in fact, few cities have so many homegrown businesses. Think Whole Foods Market, Dell Computers, Thundercloud Subs, Chuys, Kendra Scott Jewelry, Yeti, Vrbo, Tito’s, Torchy’s and Amy’s Ice Cream, just to name a few. Electric pickup trucks made in Austin are going to disrupt 100 years of Ford, GMC and Dodge dominance. But despite the city’s phenomenal growth and change, it still retains its unique vibe and charm.”
The two brothers have long set their sights on developing in Austin because of their ties to the city and its growing attraction to businesses and families alike. When they purchased the Cambria property more than six years ago, they knew they had a compelling location with exceptional visibility and access, walkability to all the downtown demand generators and a location in the heart of the strongest hotel submarket in Austin.
In fact, Andrew pointed out, the luxury travel lifestyle platform Jetsetter has called Rainey one of “America’s Coolest Streets,” rivaling Bourbon Street with its funky “century-old bungalows-turned-bars,” collection of eclectic restaurants serving inspired locavore cuisine and unique brand of relaxed entertainment. Just one block away from Rainey Street and fronting IH-35, the Cambria’s guests will have a front row seat to all that the Rainey District has to offer. Notably, Cambria boasts the only rooftop, hotel pool deck and fitness facility directly overlooking Rainey Street.
The 16-story, 223,975 square foot Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown’s Austin-centric design incorporates natural limestone, artwork by local artisans and other Austin-influenced design elements throughout its public and private spaces. The style is organic, trendy and upscale, featuring custom lighting, custom beadwork and a state-of-the-art sound system. The Cambria’s incomparable location encourages guests to immerse themselves in the historic ambience and live attractions of the hottest entertainment district in Austin, the undisputed Live Music Capital of the World.
The Cambria offers 212 guest rooms, ranging from queen and king studios to king suites with separate living spaces to fully accessible rooms with roll-in showers. Seasonal room rates range from $200 to $400. The hotel has seven conference rooms of varying capacity totaling more than 8,300 square feet of space, valet parking, a 24-hour marketplace, and a fifth-floor resort-style pool, featuring an expansive pool deck with a fireplace and cabanas with food and drink service available poolside. Guests will enjoy sweeping panoramas of downtown, Lady Bird Lake, the Hill Country, Rainey Street and East Austin from their room. The pool deck area can be rented for private events.
Cambria’s 1,616 square foot fitness center features Peloton and Life Fitness equipment, including treadmills; ellipticals; equipment for chest presses, shoulder presses and seated leg curls; multi-use equipment; and weight benches, medicine balls and free weights.
“We specialize in catering to the needs of the modern mid-level business traveler, showering them with little indulgences that relax, fulfill and make coming back to the Cambria after a rigorous business day a welcome reward,” said Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown General Manager Marc Grotelueschen. “Azul Hospitality Group is known for designing destinations defined by individuality and soul, and operating them with guest services at the fore of their priorities. The Cambria Austin Downtown fits that profile perfectly.”
Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown’s premier location provides excellent access to major thoroughfares and walkability to Rainey Street’s mix of restaurants and bars, letting guests experience the many moods and tastes of the city’s urban core. It is blocks from the Austin Convention Center and less than a mile from the downtown business district, the Texas Capitol Building and the Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail; minutes away from The University of Texas and Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, home of the UT Longhorns; and a short drive from the 358-acre Zilker Park and one of Austin’s crown jewels — the three-acre Barton Springs Pool.
Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown is a part of Choice Hotels International (CHI), one of the largest hotel franchisors in North America, but David’s and Andrew’s vision for Cambria extends beyond CHI’s stellar reputation. Their goal is to impress guests so much they’ll want to come back again and again. They will accomplish this through matchless design, amenities, location, food and beverage, excellent service and access to Austin’s most inviting entertainment venues. While Cambria is designed to appeal to business travelers, its restaurant and lounge offerings will draw local foodies, international travelers and downtown condominium and apartment dwellers in search of live music in an upscale environment, complemented by signature dishes and cocktails with stunning views.
Graffiti, Cambria’s signature restaurant and bar on the fifth-floor lobby level, serves up unmatched culinary experiences through imaginative, beverage-forward menus. The menus represent a range of light to hearty classic American fare for breakfast and dinner, all bursting with fresh flavors, including some adventurous takes on old favorites and others that are Cambria originals. With seating to accommodate 100, Graffiti is open seven days a week, serving breakfast from 6 AM to 11 AM and dinner from 5 PM to midnight subject to change. Hotel guests may place orders from their rooms.
Limestone Rooftop, perched atop Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown is an inspiring rooftop destination that provides a relaxing respite for guests to kick back and take in a sunset as they sip signature cocktails and craft beers made with Texas local spirits, and savor Mediterranean-influenced/global fare incorporating locally sourced produce. Limestone’s décor is enhanced with touches of burnt orange as a tip of the hat to its owners’ alma mater.
“What sets us apart will be a next-level dining experience; organic, inspired design throughout the facility; a unique, inviting atmosphere; live local music; and superlative service,” said Andrew. “Guests will be enchanted by the fresh, innovative approach we take to every dish we serve.”
David and Andrew Wood have over 55 years of combined experience in real estate, finance, development and management encompassing the entire development cycle. Together, the two brothers have underwritten, developed and built more than 5,500 hospitality, residential and multifamily units representing more than $1.59 billion in investment. Much of David’s focus has been on nonprofit affordable housing development. Since 2004, he has been chairman of the board of Jamboree Housing Corporation, one of the largest private nonprofit housing and services firms in California.
Rogers-O’Brien Construction, Texas’ premier builder with over 50 years of experience, was the construction partner in the development of Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown.
“Our goal with Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown is to become a ‘must-stay’ hotel for visitors and a ‘must-do’ destination for Austinites,” said David. “We are targeting people who are looking for captivating design, character, sincerely personal service and a vibrant social scene. People who feel their hotel choice directly reflects who they are, who crave the real deal — something that feels honest and genuine and draws them into the larger community.”
