Dive Brief:
- Hilton opened the first property under its LivSmart Studios by Hilton brand in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the hotel company announced Tuesday. Hilton previously said the brand’s Kokomo, Indiana, location would open first, but that property is now slated to open later this summer, per the company.
- LivSmart Studios offers apartment-style accommodations in the lower midscale segment, designed for guests staying 20 nights or more, Hilton previously shared. The brand, launched in 2023, fills “a critical void” in the extended stay segment, according to Hilton.
- Hilton plans to open some 90 LivSmart Studios in coming years, according to the announcement, as it expands its presence in the high-demand extended stay hotel segment.
Dive Insight:
Chris Silcock, Hilton’s president of global brands and commercial services, said LivSmart Studios “represents the latest chapter in our growth strategy as we expand our extended-stay presence with a product designed for longer stays.”
Hilton designed the brand based on its findings that “long-stay guests, including traveling nurses and relocating workers, prioritize simplicity, comfort and quality time,” per the announcement.
Rooms at the property include a full kitchen with a two-burner stovetop, a full-size refrigerator, a dishwasher, a microwave, cookware and kitchen tools; a spacious bathroom; storage space; and flexible furniture.
The hotel’s public spaces include a lobby with visibility into laundry and fitness areas, a retail market and an outdoor patio with fire pits and grills.
Hilton developed the 89-room LivSmart Studios by Hilton Tullahoma in partnership with Chattanooga, Tennessee-based developer 3H Group and Miami financial services provider Aztec Group.
Tullahoma is known for its flight and aviation research industries, which, like Kokomo, Indiana, creates a “high-need workforce market where long-stay travel is frequent and stable,” per Hilton.
Hilton has more than 225 deals for future LivSmart Studios locations in various stages of negotiation, according to the announcement.
Despite recent economic uncertainty, hotel players are still bullish on extended stay, according to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ first-annual Hotel Owner Trends Report, released last month.
