Choice Hotels International announced that it has added The Equus hotel in Hawai, to its upscale Ascend Hotel Collection, which includes a network of about 116 hotels.
The Equus, which is owned and operated by a family deeply rooted in the sport of polo, is the only hotel in Waikiki that offers guests a direct connection to the North Shore, home of the Hawaii Polo Club.
Choice Hotels International upscale brands senior vice president Michael Murphy said "The addition of The Equus represents a major milestone in bringing the Ascend Hotel Collection experience to new travelers in key destination markets.
"We have been seeking out the perfect partner and property to enter Hawai’i for some time now and are excited to take another step in continuing to forge strong relationships with superior franchisees in top travel markets."
The 10-story Equus features 67 guestrooms, which are finely appointed with personal touches and amenities such as cozy pillow-top beds, flat screen TVs, mini fridges, Keurig coffee makers with complimentary organic coffee and tea and high-speed internet access.
Rooms with city views and balconies are also available in the hotel, in addition to upgraded and higher floor rooms.
The Equus, in the upper west side of Waikiki in Honolulu, is very close to Ala Moana shopping centre, as well as a wide range of restaurants and lounges. Slightly further away are attractions such as Waikiki Beach and the Honolulu Zoo.
Choice Hotels franchises about 6,300 hotels, representing more than 500,000 rooms in the US and more than 30 other countries and territories.
According to the group, 371 hotels representing more than 29,000 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the US, as of 30 September 2013.
In addition, 84 hotels, representing around 7,200 rooms, were under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in about 15 other countries and territories.
