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already has more than 400 locations identified for future Project H3 properties .
“ You see where these types of extended-stay hotels make sense , yet [ currently ] there is no product in the market for extended stay ,” said Schuyler . “ There ' s hundreds of opportunities in front of us for this type of product , and eventually thousands .”
EFFECTIVE DESIGN Past iterations of extended stays were often patchwork renovations of older hotels , a decision that benefitted neither traveler nor operator . These new prototypes , like Wyndham Hotels and Resorts ’ ECHO Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham , were built from scratch with efficiency in mind . Modus Architects and interior designer AB Blevins developed a décor program that was not only stylish , but could be easily fixed or replaced .
“ In this segment , you really must think about how the high occupancy and demand affects design , and how you can plan to make that easier for owners ,” said Krishna Paliwal , head of architecture , design , and construction at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts . “ For example , rather than a mirror in the bathroom that ’ s backlit , we use regular mirrors because we are thinking about easy replacements . Lamps can break , so we stick to ceiling lights throughout . That way , if something is broken , it ’ s easier for the owner to go to a local repair shop for a temporary fix
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while still renting the room , rather than having to take the room out of service for more intrusive updates .”
Streamlined building measures , like building the walls 8 feet tall — the same height as the material used — are making labor and installation costs more efficient for mass production . With 265 hotels in the pipeline , and multiple projects already in various stages of construction , ECHO Suites is now Wyndham ’ s fastest-growing brand .
The cost efficiency extends to guests , too . A reduction in amenities means not paying for things you don ’ t need , while focusing on the things you do . ECHO Suites will include a 24-hour fitness center , on-site security , multiple laundry machines and free parking to help guests live normal routines during their stays .
“ From a design and construction perspective , the extended-stay format has presented us with a huge opportunity to be even more thoughtful than ever before and really focus on how we are
A lobby rendering at Hyatt Studios .
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making each space efficient ,” said Paliwal .
SMOOTH OPERATOR A slower pace makes extended stays affordable for hotel owners and operators , too . Housekeeping services are weekly or on demand , not daily . Contactless check-out and intermittent check-ins reduce the number of concierge staff . Without costly amenities like restaurants , bars , pools or conference areas , there ’ s no need to pay for upkeep .
Extended-stay brands in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio like Residence Inn , TownePlace Suites and Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy offer upscale and luxury guest experiences , but are costlier to rent and operate . The just-announced StudioRes was built with a focus on a streamlined , minimalist operating model to appeal to maximize a return on investment .
“ Our designers are equally focused on maximizing the efficiency and minimizing the cost-to-build of the StudioRes prototype to ensure that it
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can be built at a fully loaded cost that is consistent with the return expectations of owners and franchisees ,” said Noah Silverman , global development officer , US & Canada for Marriott International , Inc . “ We also want to be careful not to add ‘ bells and whistles ’ to enable us to keep the model intact and the efficiencies in place .”
At 124 rooms and 54,000 square feet , with an estimated construction cost of around $ 13 million , StudioRes is poised to be Marriott ’ s most affordable cost-per-key product to develop and build in the U . S . Marriott has already identified more than 1,800 potential markets in North America alone .
“ Marriott comes to the affordable midscale extendedstay market with a combination of strong historical operational and financial performance and experience ,” said Silverman . “ That experience will allow us to deliver bottom-line cost savings with a light operational model for owners and franchisees , thereby enabling a lower price point for guests .”
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62 hotelsmag . com September 2023 |