Photo by Dan Andrews.
Alpesh Patel (center), CEO of Kana Hotel Group, cuts the ribbon of the new Embassy Suites Knoxville West with Jacqueline Padilla (left), hotel general manager, alongside ceremony attendees Knoxville County Mayor Tim Burchett (far right) and Alan Roberts (back row, right), vice president of brand performance support, Embassy Suites.
Embassy Suites Hotels celebrated the official grand opening of the new Embassy Suites Knoxville West last Tuesday with local officials and community members, with a ceremony marking the arrival of the area’s first full-service property in 25 years. Owned and managed by Kana Hotel Group, the 140-suite, six-story all-suites hotel is located at 9621 Parkside Drive, off I-40 and I-75. The property is already a draw for business travelers, as it is conveniently located near several companies including Siemens Medical Solutions, Barge Waggoner and Bechtel Corporation, and is accessible to the Knoxville Convention Center and University of Tennessee.
The grand opening celebration centered around an official ribbon cutting ceremony with remarks from Jacqueline Padilla, the hotel’s general manager, and Alan Roberts, vice president of brand performance support – Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Worldwide. During the evening, guests enjoyed a tour of the property, as well as a live music performance from local musician Brad Blackwell. Additional attendees included Tim Burchett, Knoxville county mayor; Alpesh Patel, CEO, and Kevin Mahoney, president, Kana Hotel Group; Kris Reagan, director of sales, Embassy Suites Knoxville West; Mark Field, senior vice president of membership, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce; and Jill Thompson, executive director, Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association.
Speaking at the event, Hilton Worldwide’s Roberts said, “Embassy Suites is proud to partner with Kana Hotel Group on yet another upscale property as the brand looks to expand its footprint and make our full-service, all-suites offering available to more travelers in more markets. This hotel is one of the first properties in Tennessee to feature our latest Design Option III concept, which brings the unique Embassy Suites attributes to life in a way that is attractive to developers and contributes toward an enhanced guest experience.”
The innovative and flexible Design Option III model features a variety of two-room suites and side-by-side suites, in addition to a contemporary atrium area. The design decreases the amount of land needed and creates efficiencies for both construction and operational costs. These features also further enhance the guest experience, as there is still a great sense of space and more natural light in guest rooms and public areas like the atrium.
“We believe in the Embassy Suites brand and we’re confident that its legacy of superior customer service will serve the needs of business and leisure travelers to the Knoxville area,” said Alpesh Patel, CEO, Kana Hotel Group. “We are excited to grow our portfolio in the Greater Knoxville region and Tennessee with the addition of a high-performing and solid brand like Embassy Suites to our roster of hotels.”
