IHG Hotels and Resorts has opened the third property under its upper midscale extended stay brand Atwell Suites.
The former Holiday Inn Express and Suites Austin Airport is located around five minutes’ drive from Austin Bergstrom International Airport, and has been renovated and reflagged as the Atwell Suites Austin Airport.
Features include 80 suites with lounges areas, complimentary breakfast and all-day refreshment stand, a bar and communal TV lounge.
IHG launched the Atwell brand in May 2019, targeting what the group said at the time was an US$18 billion industry segment, with amenities and services falling somewhere between an extended-stay property and a select service hotel.
The rollout has been slow however – no doubt in part caused by the Covid-19 pandemic – with the first property opening in Miami in 2020, followed by Atwell Suites Denver Airport – Tower Road last year.
The group said that there are more than 40 Atwell properties in the pipeline, with recent groundbreakings in Las Vegas, Henderson (Nevada), Kansas City and Fort Worth.
Major hotel groups have been increasingly focusing on the extended stay sector, with a flurry of brands launched in the last 12 months including Marriott’s StudioRes concept and Hilton’s LivSmart Studios.
Commenting on the news Karen Gilbride, vice president of Atwell Suites, avid hotels and Garner hotels, said:
“The opening of Atwell Suites Austin Airport is an opportunity for us to showcase the flexibility our brand can offer potential owners and establish Atwell Suites as a distinctive choice among the upper midscale market with its modern design and fresh aesthetic.
“At IHG, we’ve seen great success with conversions in recent years – particularly during times of tighter financial lending environments. As we continue to see an increasing desire from owners in this space, we’re excited that Atwell Suites can provide this option.”
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