[caption id="attachment_223577" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Choice Hotel officials and Sussex county leaders gathered on June 2 to break ground on the Cambria hotel in Rehoboth Beach. | PHOTO COURTESY OF CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL[/caption] REHOBOTH BEACH — A large hotel brand made its early debut in Delaware this month as Choice Hotels broke ground on the Cambria Hotel off Route 24 on June 2. The four-story,114-room hotel Cambria Hotel Rehoboth Beach is expected to be open in 2024 at the intersection of John J. William Highway and Beebe Road. Choice Hotels International has 7,000 hotels across the world including four Cambria brands in Maryland — the closest in Ocean City. “The Delmarva Peninsula is a favorite vacation spot for those who call the Mid-Atlantic home, and we look forward to showcasing the town’s vibrant culture and coastal charm through the new Cambria hotel,” Choice Hotels Senior Vice President Janis Cannon said in a statement. “The groundbreaking represents another proud moment in the brand … as we grow the Cambria footprint throughout the region.” Developed by Ocean City-based Pinnacle Hospitality Group, the Cambria Hotel Rehoboth Beach will include indoor and outdoor pools, a poolside cabana, a tiki bar and outdoor fire pits. Bedrooms will feature spa-style bathrooms and bluetooth mirrors. Other amenities include on-site dining, a fitness center and a 3,800-square-foot meeting room. The hotel is slated to become the latest project on Route 24, which has been noted for major construction projects in the last two years. Beebe Healthcare just opened the doors of its Specialty Surgical Hospital nearby, and Artisans Bank is building a new facility for Rehoboth Beach clients. Rehoboth Beach enjoyed an explosive summer season last year, as vaccinations and low COVID-19 transmission levels encouraged people to enjoy the beach. Delaware’s resort town is a four-hour drive from 30% of the nation’s population, driving high interest and potential more opportunities for hotel growth. For Memorial Day weekend, 3,281 hotel rooms were booked, according to recent accommodation data collected by the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce. From January to Memorial Day weekend, there were 52,656 hotel rooms booked overall. Harvey, Hanna & Associates and TKo Hospitality opened the Hyatt House hotel near Five Points in Lewes earlier this year, while TKo Hospitality is continuing a $5 million renovation of the former Sandcastle Motel in downtown Rehoboth. Plans filed with the city show the building will structurally remain the same but will include a couple extra rooms, as well as an overall of the restaurant.