The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, January 2018 … BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, has added another prominent Texas property to its portfolio, Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center ( www.TexasAMHotelCC.com ). Currently under construction on the historic Texas A&M University campus in College Station, the new eight-story facility will offer 250 guest accommodations and suites, a formal restaurant, two-story bar and lounge, a gym and a business center. The hotel overlooks Kyle Field, site of numerous events and sports competitions, including the games of the fabled Texas “Aggies” football team. Alex Cabañas, CEO of Benchmark, made the announcement.

“Whoop! That’s Aggie for how excited I am to welcome this incredible project into Benchmark’s portfolio,” said Mr. Cabañas. “As a Texas A&M graduate, Class of 1998, it is a privilege to work with a world-class university that means so much to me, and to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience on the campus and within the Bryan/College Station community and the region.”

Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center will be situated in a striking glass tower encompassing a total of 252,500 square feet, with 35,000 square feet of meeting and event space that includes a spacious 8,300-square foot ballroom accommodating up to 1,000 guests. Twenty-two flexible meeting rooms will accommodate presentations, board meetings, private dinners and receptions. The 1,400-car garage will be connected to the hotel by a covered bridgeway.

The property’s accommodations will be contemporary, luxurious and spacious, and will include 250 guest rooms with two penthouses and 11 suites. The rooms will be decorated in Texas A&M’s colors of maroon and white with soft accents of gray. Historic photos of the events at Kyle Field will provide drama and a sense of place. The hospitality suites will overlook the hotel’s Pool Terrace with its swimming pool, fitness center, restaurant and bar, perfect for relaxation and informal events.

Dining options will include a restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a casual bistro serving drinks and light refreshments, a patio restaurant, a bar on two levels opening onto a terrace on each level, and a Pool Bar serving lite fare. Benchmark is committed to providing innovative banquet services that include sustainable, local sourcing of ingredients, fresh, healthful food and dishes that meet the increasingly diverse demands of today’s conference attendees.

The conference space is designed to meet the exacting standards of IACC, formerly known as the International Association of Conference Centres, providing a productive learning environment with ergonomic furniture, top audiovisual equipment and state-of-the-art built-in technology throughout the center. The Texas A&M project will be a tremendous resource for both the University and the region. The conference center and hotel will be available for use by the growing number of companies in the area. It will also serve former students, football fans and visitors to the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library, located on the Texas A&M University campus.

The Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center is in College Station in the heart of Central Texas, 90 miles northwest of Houston. The area is served by Easterwood Airport with connections to most US cities. In 2015, College Station ranked No. 2 nationally on Forbes’ list of the Best Small Places for Business and Careers.

Other Benchmark properties operated in Texas include Hotel Contessa on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, and the recently announced Delta Hotels by Marriott Dallas Allen & Watters Creek Convention Center, currently under construction in the city of Allen, Texas, with a Decembe