New York: Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday (Dec. 14) announced that ground was broken on The Cambria Hotel Niagara Falls, part of a more than $18 million mixed-use development project. The seven-story, 120-room upscale hotel brand, which will be located on Rainbow Boulevard, will also include three new residential guest houses on Buffalo Avenue and is expected to open in the spring of 2023. The Cambria Hotel Niagara Falls will be developed by Plati Niagara Inc., which also owns a Wingate by Wyndham in Niagara Falls.
“Niagara Falls is one of New York’s most visited tourist destinations and as we work to rebuild our economy, we must capitalize on all the city has to offer,” Governor Hochul said. “With the Cambria Hotel’s construction underway, visitors from around the globe will soon be welcomed to this historic city with a beautiful new place to stay and have direct access to the culture and natural beauty that makes Niagara Falls a gem of upstate New York.”
Located at 311 Rainbow Boulevard in downtown Niagara Falls, New York, the hotel will be only two blocks from the world-famous Niagara Falls State Park, which welcomes 9 million visitors annually. Guests will be able to take advantage of popular attractions that allow visitors to get closer to the Falls, whether by descending into the Niagara Gorge at the Cave of the Winds or visiting the nearby Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant to see how the Falls serves as a hydroelectric power source. They can also stroll along Old Falls Street and Third Street to visit shops and restaurants.
Senior Vice President, Upscale Brands, Choice Hotels Janis Cannon said, “We’re committed to bringing the Cambria Hotels brand to more of guests’ favourite destinations, and I cannot think of a better place to do so than the breathtaking Niagara Falls. Not only will the Cambria Hotel Niagara Falls put guests right at the doorstep of the majestic waterfalls, but its central location near downtown’s shops and restaurants will make this hotel the perfect place to experience this stunning part of the country.”
Plati Niagara Inc. Co-Owner Frank Strangio said, “The Strangio family is very excited to break ground on our next hotel project in our hometown of Niagara Falls, NY USA. My father Antonio, brother Anthony and I have always had great faith in the future of the city of Niagara Falls and believe strongly in its potential for growth. It is especially gratifying to be able to begin work again after one of the most difficult times in our country’s history. We hope that this project is a sign that we are moving forward and past the pandemic and that it may spur additional economic growth in our region. We believe that this unique mixed-use project will be transformational in our downtown tourism district. The project could not have come to fruition without the great leadership and support on the city, county and state levels, the amazing people at Choice Hotels International and Bank on Buffalo and especially from our family, friends and staff!”
The Cambria Hotel Niagara Falls will feature upscale amenities that appeal to modern travellers, including:
Indoor and outdoor spaces for productive work or relaxation.
Locally inspired design and décor, reflecting the unique personality of the surrounding area.
Contemporary and sophisticated guest rooms, complete with design forward fixtures, abundant lighting and plush bedding.
Immersive, spa-style bathrooms with Bluetooth mirrors.
Bar and restaurant featuring freshly made food, local craft beers on tap, wine and specialty cocktails, as well as to-go options.
Multi-function meeting and event spaces.
State-of-the-art fitness center.
This project will also add three guesthouses (to be marketed as vacation rentals) to complement the historic character of Buffalo Avenue’s Heritage District. USA Niagara Development Corporation (USAN), a subsidiary of Empire State Development (ESD), is facilitating projects that preserve and/or involve sensitive infill development along Buffalo Avenue, situated on the upper Niagara River near the “Riverway” portion of the State Park. The guesthouses will reestablish a residential block of Buffalo Avenue between Third and Fourth streets, where currently only a single residential structure remains. The units will also be located across from 305 Buffalo Avenue, a parcel that New York State purchased as part of its Strategic Land Acquisition Program, on which a new trail/stairway connection to the Riverway was opened in spring 2021.
USAN will commit $1.7 million to this project, contingent on the USAN Board of Directors’ approval after completion of the project.
Since 2011, New York State has invested more than $315 million in the City of Niagara Falls in a concerted effort to realize and expand the economic benefits of annual visitation. Investments have included: upgrades to Niagara Falls State Park; revitalization efforts including eight new hotels and the restoration of Old Falls Street and streetscape improvements on other downtown streets; and the aforementioned acquisition program to facilitate future mixed-use development. In addition, the state has completed the transformational removal of three miles of the former Robert Moses Parkway, creating a 140-acre unbroken, fully accessible ribbon of green space on the Upper Niagara River and Niagara Gorge. North Main Street was also named an NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative winner and is leveraging the removal of the Parkway and investments in the Underground Railroad Heritage Center and Niagara Falls Train Station to recreate a strong business district reconnected to the Niagara Gorge.
