A new hotel in far north Fort Worth called Avid dispenses with fancy-schmancy "extras" and focuses on a few basics that they say every traveler wants: namely, a good night's rest and free breakfast the next morning.
Avid Hotels, a new IHG Hotels & Resorts brand "for the modern traveler," opened its first North Texas property April 21 in the Fossil Creek area of Fort Worth, near I-35W and Loop 820, at 6225 Sandshell Dr. (If you're cruising north 35, look to the right, behind Seven Mile Cafe and Chili's.)
The 42,000-square foot hotel offers 95 rooms — 46 with king beds and 49 with two queens — for the mid-scale price point of $95-$100 per night.
"At our core, we deliver the basics done exceptionally well at a fair price," says Karen Gilbride, VP of Avid Hotels, in a release. "The Avid Hotels brand brings its key values, 'Fresh, Fair and Frank,' to life in all touch points of the experience to best offer a superior guest stay, including a great night’s sleep, a grab-and-go complimentary breakfast, and seamless technology — the essentials for everyday travel."
To meet that "good night's rest" goal, guest rooms are outfitted with:
- beds with sound-reducing headboards
- high-quality mattresses and linens
- choice of firm or soft pillows
- black-out roller shades
- a 55-inch TV, for those who like to drift off to sleep in front of a big-screen TV
- complimentary Wi-Fi, for those who like to drift off to sleep in front of their phones
- a guarantee that each room has been cleaned according to a 50-point checklist
Rooms, at 220- to 275-square feet, are also designed with an open-concept-minimalist aesthetic, meaning, for example, you hang your clothes up on hooks in "open closets" rather than open and closing doors of a traditional closet.
"The open closets right-size the room for our guests’ typical one-to-two-night stays, while also eliminating drawers and fixtures where dust can collect over time," Gilbride says.
Complimentary breakfast begins with individually brewed, bean-to-cup coffee; a hot breakfast item such as a breakfast sandwich or egg scramble bowl; and a grab-and-go display of breakfast items like yogurt, fresh fruit, breads, cereals, and oatmeal. Breakfast has become a "luxury" that many luxury hotels don't even offer these days.
"Through research we discovered that creating a round breakfast display reduced buffet lines as guests feel empowered to walk up and grab what they need rather than waiting in line for a standard buffet," Gilbride says. "Here we offer premium, grab-and-go items that are healthy and offer recognizable brand-names, like our guests would find at their grocery or in their own kitchens."
The hotel also has admirable earth-friendly initiatives in place. As part of parent company IHG's global efforts to reduce waste, personal care amenities like shampoo and body wash are in bulk — rather than individual — bottles, and are made with all-natural ingredients and recyclable packaging. Complimentary still and sparkling water dispensers allow guests to refill their own bottles.
The Avid Hotels brand is part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' Essentials brand portfolio, which includes Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. Since its introduction in 2017, the brand has quickly grown across the U.S. and Mexico. Fort Worth marks the 37th property for the brand and its first in DFW.
"We’re so excited to bring the Avid Hotels brand to the vibrant city of Fort Worth," says Kalpesh Patel, owner of Avid Hotel Fort Worth – Fossil Creek, "and help guests experience all that this area has to offer."
The bright, fresh lobby is where you get a free breakfast.
