Embassy Suites Hotels Introduces Spacious One-Room Suite Concept

Embassy Suites Hotels, the international chain of upscale, all-suite hotels, unveiled its first one-room suite, designed to pack more room into a smaller space for today’s cost-conscious traveler and hotel developer. This new suite concept represents the first major room design change since the upscale brand’s launch 25 years ago.

The new one-room suite design delivers the same amenities and upscale value to Embassy Suites guests, including a complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast, evening reception* and a spacious open-air atrium.

Extensive guest research confirmed the more abbreviated design works perfectly for business travelers who still want the amenities and extras they’re used to receiving during an Embassy Suites stay—complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast and evening reception, but who don’t need or necessarily want all that extra space. The redesigned room option is spacious – approximately 370 square feet – and features the same amenities as a traditional two-room suite: a living room, wet bar, bathroom and bedroom area.

While the new suite design is geared toward business travelers, hotel developers also will benefit from the new design. Over the last few years, in response to escalating construction costs, hotel developers had approached the brand about finding a way to pack more ‘hotel’ into a conventional Embassy Suites footprint. For new Embassy Suites hotels, developers will be allowed to allocate up to 20 percent of the guestrooms as one-room suites, which will result in lower construction costs. The new suite design also lends itself to future growth, with more Embassy Suites Hotels being built in suburban office parks, downtown urban locations, adaptive reuse projects and the brand’s smaller 150-suite prototype.

The centerpiece of the one-room suite is a smart wall that is accessible as soon as the guest enters the room and is instrumental in retaining the same spacious feel as in the traditional two-room suite. It houses a variety of compartments for business documents, presentations, or a photo from home and also includes a niche for unique local art. The wall also provides guests a space to recharge cell phones, PDAs, iPods, or other communication devices.

The 14’ x 18’ suite includes a walk-in shower, microwave, refrigerator, activity desk, 42-inch flat screen television, full size ironing board and iron. It features a sleek, finished design, with upscale furniture, sliding barn doors into the bathroom door and plenty of natural light. The one-room suite will always be located next to a traditional two-room suite with a connecting door, offering families and groups a second bedroom and living room on occasions when they need extra space.

The first Embassy Suites to be built with the new one-room suite design will be located in Buffalo–a converted federal office building in the downtown area. The new prototype room will begin appearing in new-build Embassy Suites Hotels during late 2009 and through 2010.