By james art Choice Hotels International has reached a milestone with the launch of its 500th extended stay hotel. The opening of Everhome Suites in Glendale, Arizona marks an important moment in the hotel company’s expansion strategy in the economy and mid-range extended stay sectors.
Its 500th property, the newly opened Everhome Suites in Glendale, Arizona, marks the brand’s entry into one of the Southwest’s high-growth regions. Located along the New River with scenic views and a riverfront promenade, the hotel is close to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona State University West Valley campus, State Farm Stadium, Desert Diamond Casino and St. Joseph’s Westgate.
Developed in partnership with Highside Companies and managed by Superhost Hospitality, Everhome Suites Glendale offers 122 rooms. Some of the amenities the hotel offers include fully equipped kitchens with full-sized appliances, spa-style bathrooms, guest laundries (with some suites having in-room washers and dryers), weekly housekeeping, a fitness center, and common outdoor areas.
Across the hospitality industry, Choice has the fastest-growing economy extended-stay portfolio and leads the economy new-build category, the company said in a release, citing STR Pipeline Data from August.
As of the second quarter, Choice’s portfolio includes more than 350 hotels in the pipeline under four brands — Everhome Suites, WoodSpring Suites, Suburban Studios and MainStay Suites.
“Reaching 500 open extended-stay properties is a testament to our strategic focus on this high-growth category, proven extended-stay hotel operating model and tried-and-true brand prototypes, all of which make Choice’s expertise the best in the industry said Patrick Passius, president and CEO of Choice Hotels, International. “As we continue to grow, we are committed to working with developers to deliver high-quality, cost-effective properties that deliver an excellent long-term guest experience and unmatched financial returns.”
With the addition of the Glendale property, Choice has six Everhome Suites open in the U.S. and more than 65 in the pipeline, which includes more than 20 in various stages of construction. Choice hopes to open more than 15 Everhome Suites in the next 12 months.
In addition, Choice opened 13 MainStay Suites and Suburban Studios between January 1 and September in key markets in Las Vegas, Moreno Valley, California, Orlando and Tampa, Florida.
Emerging as a preferred option among guests during the pandemic, demand for the extended-stay segment continues to outstrip supply, Choice said. The company’s Choice Maps platform analyzes proprietary data through AI and data science tools to ensure its properties match the best sites in the most in-demand markets.
“Our team of experts knows where there is unmet demand in the category and provides best-in-class support for our franchisees from location selection to opening and day-to-day operations,” said Matt McElhar, vice president and segment lead for Extended Stay Brands, Choice Hotels International. “We are extremely proud to be a leader in one of the fastest growing segments in hospitality and look forward to opening the next 500 extended stay hotels.”
With a portfolio that includes hotels in the luxury, mid-range and extended-stay sectors, Choice has approximately 7,500 hotels with a total of 630,000 rooms under 22 brands in 45 countries.