AUSTIN, Texas
Texas has given a lot of things to the world: Longhorns, Aggies, Cowboys, Hilton Hotels, and La Quinta Inns. It’s about to give another gift—a new focused-service hotel brand conceived by a Texan with deep roots in the hotel industry.
The new concept: A hotel with a modern design created by International award winning Texas architectural firm Frank Architects, that the founder hopes will be attractive to travelers and developers. Construction of the first prototype located in Cotulla, Texas, is slated for April, 2013 with the doors set to open during the first quarter of 2014. The new-build hotels’ modern influence is balanced with earth tone colors of olive, grey and sand combined with a communal style lobby arrangement, and soothing interior touches.
The modern design also marries sensible high tech conveniences such as personalized flat-screen televisions; use of cell phone as the room key; and other high-tech facets—even extending to maintenance and housekeeping using smart devices to conduct daily operations.
Introduction of snazzy technology to the midscale hotel market is not the main intent behind the brand, however.
“Ciena brand is all about comfort and service,” says Bob Zachariah, Founder, President and CEO of HotelWorks Development, the parent company of Ciena Hotels and Suites. “Yes, we do wish to take advantage of the developments in technology which can make the comfort of a stay seamless in nature from online reservation to check in to the actual stay. However, we’ve not forgotten and we will never forget what a hotel is all about – a clean place to rest, work, meet new people and enjoy the most comfortable sleep.”
Zachariah also states their intent is to deliver a hotel which will give the guest the freedom to interact with the hotel staff as much as they would love or as little as they would like. Front desk staff and management will have smart devices at their fingertips so as to meet the guests upon arrival and welcome them to the hotel, check them into their respective rooms from anywhere in the lobby.
