The first AVIA hotels break ground this month in Savannah, Georgia, with opening scheduled for December 2008, and in Long Beach and Napa, California, with openings set for Spring 2009. AVIA The Woodlands, meanwhile, will break ground in the north Houston enclave in Spring 2008 and open in Fall 2009.

AVIA, a collection of boutique hotels, is a new venture for Wichita, Kansas-based LodgeWorks, which made its reputation with innovative industry-leading suite brands such as Residence Inn® and Summerfield Suites® Hotels. 

LodgeWorks teamed up with local tastemakers in each market and with leading industry specialists to develop the AVIA brand and experience.  Accomplished boutique hotel designer Colum McCartan, who designed Hotel Vitale and Hotel Adagio in San Francisco and Le Parker Méridien in New York, helped establish the design essence of the brand, setting the standard for all AVIA hotels.  Other talented teams who�ve contributed significantly to the collection include Heller-Manus of San Francisco, J. Webb Design & Associates of Kansas City, and Krehbiel Architecture and Law/Kingdon, Inc. of Wichita. The result is a boutique collection that graces its locales with elegant and creative presences while enhancing them with an air of relaxed refinement.

LodgeWorks also worked with creative Chicago-based brand experience consultancy Phillips+Co. to develop the brand experience and name. Inventive food and beverage experts Paul Keeler, who has been named �menu strategist of the year� by Restaurant Business magazine and Adam Ghali, who brings an extensive background in international luxury brands like Ritz Carlton®, are leading the call to bring local flair to the hotel�s specialty menus.

The AVIA collection will offer inspiring settings for discovery, both inside and out. Interior colors, materials and furnishings will reflect the distinctive character of each address, albeit with intriguing twists. AVIA Napa, for instance, takes its inspiration from the romance and viticultural heritage of wine country, with an earthy and warm palette and curvilinear design motifs.  In Long Beach, a cool palette and blend of sumptuous and distinctive materials will allow nature to continually assert itself, such as an interior tree sculpture that replicates a mini-forest, wall coverings that mimic the play of light and shadows, and indoor lounges with retractable walls.

Key to the AVIA concept will be the role played by hotel staffers who, from concierge to General Manager, will delight guests with the finer points of each location while providing insight on the best avenues for pursuing their travel needs. From under-the-radar restaurants to the hottest shopping spots and intriguing local lore, AVIA�s �hosts� will inspire guests to explore the heart of their destination.

Local flavor and that same sense of discovery will also carry into the AVIA dining concept. Each property will offer a fashionable bistro and café area where guests can enjoy European-inspired breakfasts with quintessential local ingredients � such as an AVIA spin on grits in Savannah. Espresso coffee bars will be run by expert baristas, while evening cocktail parties with premium libations and complimentary �tastings� of appetizers created from fresh local ingredients will be �don�t-miss� daily events. 

In-room luxuries will include spa-inspired bathrooms, high-definition flat-screen televisions, iPOD® connections, and tasting bars featuring premium snacks and beverages. Hotel services and amenities will include terraces with fire pits, cabanas and a bar, as well as valet parking.

For more information on AVIAsm Hotels, please contact 866-644-2842, or visit www.aviahotels.com. 

Note To Editors: Images available upon request.

AVIAsm is the new boutique hotel collection from brand innovator LodgeWorks, L.P. of Wichita, Kansas.  Launched in September 2007, the AVIA brand infuses sophisticated, locally-inspired designs and an imaginative service culture crafted to bring authentic moments of discovery to discerning travelers. LodgeWorks has teamed with accomplished boutique hotel designer Colum McCartan and other industry innovators to create the essence of the AVIA brand. Elegant and creative, each property will feature guest rooms accented by luxuries like high-definition flat-screen televisions, spa-inspired bathrooms and tasting bars, as well as hotel amenities such as European-inspired breakfast, wine bars and seductive outdoor terraces with cabanas and fire pits.  Highlighted by local flavor and an air of discovery, the AVIA experience embodies �the art of living well� that is sought by boutique hotel travelers. With opening dates beginning December 2008, the AVIA collection includes properties in Long Beach and Napa, California; Savannah-Historic District, Georgia; and The Woodlands-Houston, Texas. www.aviahotels.com / 866-644-2842.

Cheryl Doll
LodgeWorks, L.P.
316) 681-5170
[email protected]