NORTH BETHESDA, Md.—Choice Hotels International Inc. is expanding its portfolio of innovative solutions for its extended-stay hotel conversions with the introduction of Lobby in a Box. The modular design package—a proprietary product, exclusive to Choice Hotels—allows hoteliers to transform public spaces, such as lobby dining areas, into multifunctional, revenue-generating spaces in as few as 120 days for its Suburban Studios and MainStay Suites brands.
Delivered in a ready-to-assemble crate, Lobby in a Box empowers hotel owners to easily adapt their lobby spaces to meet the specific needs of long-staying guests, who typically prefer an in-room dining experience thanks to the fully equipped kitchens in rooms of extended-stay properties. This approach offers a versatile alternative to convert the standard lobby dining spaces in transient hotels and enables hoteliers to create new income opportunities for the MainStay brand by incorporating a marketplace featuring on-the-go food and beverage options, essential travel items, and more.
Lobby in a Box continues to drive Choice’s expansion into key extended-stay markets with high barriers to entry, where conversions offer a faster and more cost-effective alternative to new construction. Lobby in a Box is building on the success of Choice’s Kitchen in a Box, a turnkey solution enabling hotel owners to install fully equipped kitchens into guest rooms in as little as three to four months. Since its launch in the spring of 2022, Kitchen in a Box has been utilized in more than 30 open hotels, with six more in the pipeline; three of these are also incorporating Lobby in a Box into their renovations.
These proprietary turnkey design elements contribute to Choice Hotels’ rapid growth in the extended-stay segment, positioning the company to open its 500th extended-stay property this year.
“At Choice Hotels, we are proud to be pioneers and innovators in the extended-stay segment,” says Matt McElhare, vice president and lead for Choice Hotels’ extended-stay brands. “As the demand for extended-stay accommodations continues to exceed supply, solutions like Lobby in a Box and Kitchen in a Box are helping franchisees seize opportunities in a growing market while providing long-staying guests a superior, tailor-made experience. Our goal is to simplify the conversion process and help maximize hotel owners’ return on investment by giving them the tools to create spaces that can be both functional and profitable.”
