Hilton has unveiled the name of its new extended stay, studio apartment-style brand—finally. First adopting the working title name Project H3 by Hilton, the brand will officially be called LivSmart Studios by Hilton and has received “tremendous interest” from developers and owners in six months, Hilton said in a statement.
Built to accommodate stays for 20 nights or more, the lower midscale extended stay brand has more than 350 deals in various stages of negotiation, Hilton said.
Construction of the brand’s inaugural hotel in Kokomo, Ind., began in October 2023, less than five months after Hilton announced the brand. Owned by Sun Management & Development Corp., the 137-room hotel is anticipated to open this summer.
LivSmart Studios is the latest entrant to Hilton’s portfolio of 22 brands.
The extended stay segment has been resilient for the past few years, posting a steady performance even during the pandemic when travelers chose to stay in home-like accommodations. Responding to this growing preference for extended stay options, hospitality companies have been launching brands in the lower midscale segment offering apartment-style rooms for longer stays.
Hilton leaked the new brand during its Q1 2023 earnings call.
“After much anticipation, we’re thrilled to announce that LivSmart Studios by Hilton is official,” said Isaac Lake, brand leader, LivSmart Studios by Hilton. “With a resilient $300 billion workforce travel market, the extended-stay segment continues to grow. It has never been as primed as it is now for this long-stay brand, and we’re thrilled with the initial excitement we’ve received from owners.”
The brand’s approach of targeting the “undeserved segment of guests staying 20 nights or more” is intentional and positions LivSmart Studios as a disruptive force in the extended stay market.
The brand ensures three signature elements at its hotels:
- Deliberate design: Hotel exteriors will have warm wood tones and a modern farmhouse-inspired palette with light industrial touches. Outdoor patios will feature grills, a communal fire pit and seating to ensure a homely feel.
- Studio apartment-style accommodations: The layout of the rooms has been designed to provide comfort and functionality. All rooms will have spacious bathrooms, storage space, closets and movable, multi-purpose furniture, enabling guests to utilize the space for work and rest. Rooms will also include a fully equipped kitchen with a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and two-burner stovetop.
- Nontraditional lobby: The hotels will feature a hyper-functional lobby, allowing sight lines from the front desk to the fitness and laundry areas. Lobbies will also have a retail market.
LivSmart Studios will participate in Hilton’s guest loyalty program, Hilton Honors.