UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle and UMH Development LLC are converting a landmark property in Kansas City, Missouri, into a music-focused hotel, according to a Wednesday news release. Work is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
The adaptive reuse project will transform the downtown Scarritt Building — constructed more than 117 years ago — into the 169-room UMusic Hotel Kansas City. The “immersive lifestyle” hotel will combine design, personal service and programming “drawn from the city’s rich music history,” per the release.
Located near Kansas City’s Power & Light District and the T-Mobile Center, the property will also include a 309-unit branded residential tower, a music and entertainment venue, a professional recording studio and a UMusic Shop retail store. It will also feature a luxury spa and fitness center as well as multiple food and beverage concepts, including a rooftop restaurant, lounge and pool.
“UMusic Hotel Kansas City represents everything we stand for as a brand, transforming historic landmarks into immersive destinations that celebrate music, culture, and community,” Robert Lavia, CEO of UMusic Hospitality & Lifestyle, said in a statement.
Known for its deep musical roots and contributions to jazz, Kansas City is also an “ideal setting” for the company’s next chapter, per UMHL.
In 2022, UMusic Hotels launched its first property in Madrid, a 130-room hotel located inside a historic theater. The company’s plans for the U.S. include a property in Austin, Texas, featuring 150 rooms and 600 private residences, anchored by the White Rocks Amphitheater.
UMHL is an innovative hospitality company that’s partnered with record label Universal Music Group. It aims to blend guest experience, live entertainment and cultural storytelling into one development, with UMusic Hotels at “the heart of its portfolio.”
UMusic Hotel Kansas City is being developed by UMH Development and its development partner BR Companies. A timeline for the project has not been released.
The brand’s expansion into the U.S. comes as travelers increasingly seek unique, culturally immersive experiences. In 2024, Palm Tree Crew announced plans to open a “music-focused” destination in Miami with a 118-suite hotel. The hotel opened in December 2024, per the South Florida Business Journal.
In the spirit of music-focused hospitality and immersive experiences, Hard Rock International is bringing its Reverb lifestyle brand to Florence, Alabama, with an opening set for 2028. The 155-room, music-themed hotel is part of a growing pipeline of other Reverb properties across the country.
