“Is everything okay?”
It’s a typical question you’ll hear at every hotel.
John Henry, General Manager of Cambria Hotel & Suites in Plano, wants to change that. “We need to get out of the mentality of ‘is everything is okay.’ At Cambria Hotel & Suites, I don’t want to be good. I want to be excellent. We want to go above and beyond expectations.”
With all the competition in the hotel industry, John is up for the challenge. He’s already developed a good rapport with corporate clients such as JCPenney, Frito Lay, and most recently, Liberty Mutual and FedEx. But John is also committed to the community by participating in events like the Bike MS (ride for Multiple Sclerosis) and the Mayor’s Internship Program. “I really feel that our impact needs to be felt not only within the hotel property but outside in the community,” he told Plano Profile.
Walk inside the 129-all-suite, upscale boutique hotel and you’ll find framed photos and floor-to-ceiling murals of familiar Plano places (and a few Dallas icons). The “shout out” to local landmarks makes you feel proud to call Plano home. It’s what sets Cambria Hotel & Suites a part. But that’s not all…
An Eco-Friendly Hotel
Cambria Hotel & Suites in Plano is in the final stages of becoming LEED-certified for their eco-friendly practices. LEED certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council, is the most prominent green building certification a business can achieve. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and attracts a widely growing population of eco-conscious guests. The certification is based on a 100-point scoring system and there are seven categories in which a hotel has the opportunity to earn points:
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy & Atmosphere
- Materials & Resources
- Indoor Environmental Quality
- Innovation in Operations
- Regional Bonus Points
From cost savings to the positive publicity surrounding the green movement, there are multiple benefits for becoming LEED certified, for both the hotel and guests.
Cambria Hotel & Suites, which operates under O’Reilly Hospitality Management, is committed to being environmentally friendly and reducing its carbon footprint. Working with Brightergy, the hotel is utilizing electricity from solar power, which will result in reduced consumption of fuels, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
This is just a snapshot of the hotel’s solar panel-lined rooftop:
- 254 Solar Panels
- 77.4 kilowatt rooftop solar-energy system
- 254 Hanwa solar panels
- Will generate approx. 115,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually
- Offsets a minimum of 10% of the facility’s electricity use
- Eliminates 87 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, the equivalent to 8,923 gallons of gasoline not burnt
Cambria is not stopping there. Because energy efficiency is key to its mission, two Tesla supercharging stations are being installed in the back of the parking lot. Just look for the two red signs. What if you don’t drive a Tesla? Cambria will provide a universal adapter so that all electric cars can take advantage of the service.
What if you’re not staying at Cambria? “We’re in hospitality. We’re not going to turn people away!” John enthuses.
Passion = Perfection = Celebration
Tim O’Reilly of O’Reilly Hospital Management, LLC (part of the O’Reilly Automotive family) is the owner and operator of Cambria Hotel & Suites. The Plano – Legacy location is the 25th Cambria build.
This is John’s 20th year in the hotel industry. He moved to Collin County from Minneapolis, Minnesota, 16 years ago and was General Manager at the Hilton Garden Inn in Arlington. “This is what I love. It’s my passion.”
His passion infiltrates the workplace down to the team members. Forty-five team members make up the Cambria – Plano family and John noted they are not “staff,” but “team members.”
Executive Chef Mariana greeted me and Plano Profile Senior Account Executive Mendy Lea with a warm smile and served us a delightful lunch including spring salads topped with strawberries and fresh, creamy goat cheese that Chef Mariana said she sources locally.
Cambria offers an extensive menu from light bites to a pan-seared chicken and glazed carrots. “One of the best things on the menu, aside from the salmon, is a green chili Angus burger with an egg on top. It’s phenomenal,” said John.
We enjoyed lunch so much, we had to ask: “Is this restaurant open to the public?”
John nodded yes. “The way I look at it: How can we stand out not only in the market but in the community? I want our restaurant and our Social Circle to be known as the best in the nation, not just for our guests but people in the area. I would put this food up against anybody in the area.”
John has established a genuine, trusting working relationship with his team members. Together, their mantra is: “Your Passion drives you to Perfection, and Perfection brings you Celebration.”
John and the current leadership team’s focus is to identify and organically raise the next leaders not only at Cambria Hotel & Suites in Plano but in the hotel industry. “Managers manage; leaders are universal. A team follows a leader. A leader doesn’t have to work 12, 13, 14 hours a day. A leader inspires people to make a difference. A leader focuses on the team and the team focuses on the guests.”
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About Choice Hotels
Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises over 6,200 hotels, representing more than 500,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories. The company’s Cambria Suites, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands, as well as its Ascend Hotel Collection membership program, serve guests worldwide. Visit choicehotels.com.
About O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC
O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC was formed by Mr. Tim O’Reilly, Managing Member/CEO, in November 2007 and created by an intense desire to provide a unique, enjoyable and consistent guest experience through competent, attentive and team oriented hospitality management. O’Reilly Hospitality Management, LLC has developed and manages these award-winning upscale restaurants, full service hotels, and properties: Cambria Suites Hotel, Plano, TX; Hilton Garden Inn (LEED Certified) Springfield, MO; DoubleTree by Hilton Springfield, MO; Marriott TownePlace Suites Springfield, MO; Yellowstone Valley Lodge Livingston, MT; Holiday Inn, City Center Tulsa, OK; Baymont Inn Branson, MO; Holiday Inn Little Rock, AR; Boston’s Restaurant Little Rock, AR; Houlihan’s Restaurant (North) Springfield, MO; Houlihans Restaurant (South)(LEED Certified) Springfield, MO; Houlihan’s Restaurant Columbia, MO, Macadoodles, of Republic Mo, DoubleTree by Hilton, Denver-Aurora. Visit ohospitalitymanagement.com.