LivSmart Studios by Hilton is the official name of Hilton’s apartment-style, extended-stay brand that the company launched in May.
The first LivSmart Studios broke ground in October in Kokomo, Indiana. The 137-room hotel is owned by Sun Management and Development Corp. and is slated for a summer 2024 opening. Hilton says it has more than 350 deals in negotiation for the brand.
Previously operating under the working name of Project H3, the brand was billed as “lower midscale.” LivSmart targets guests staying 20 nights or more. Apartment-style suites have kitchens with full-size appliances and suites with movable, multipurpose furniture. The new-build hotels have fitness centers, laundry, a retail market and outdoor patios with grills and seating.
When Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta first teased the brand in early 2023, he said it could deliver “astronomical margins” on an efficient per-unit build cost and would address unmet workforce housing needs.
“We’re talking about an average length of stay of probably 20 to 30 days on average, versus most of the core extended-stay brands with five to 10 days, in that range,” he said. “It’s a different demand base, different types of locations, which is why we love it because we’re not already serving it. It’s not competitive with Home2 and certainly not competitive with Homewood.”
LivSmart is the latest addition to Hilton’s portfolio of 19 hotel brands. In 2023, the company opened the first Spark by Hilton and the first Tempo by Hilton.
Editor’s note: Chris Nassetta serves on the board of directors for Hotel News Now’s parent company, CoStar Group.