Travel patterns have diversified—and so have guest expectations. stayAPT Suites centers its model on how people live, not only how they sleep, with a residential footprint that gives travelers room to keep familiar routines. The result is a space that feels intuitive to long-term guests and equally practical to those staying a night or two.
The design premise is simple and consistent. A true living room, a full kitchen with full-size appliances and a separate private bedroom create an apartment-style experience in every suite across the portfolio. That purposeful layout is the point of differentiation, and it provides a clear baseline for operations and for guest expectations.
The brand’s operating philosophy reflects the layout. Fewer daily turnovers support a lean labor model, while technology assists after-hours check-in. A resident general manager’s presence at each property reinforces accountability and service, and the structure is built to accommodate a range of stay lengths without recalibrating the experience.
In a packed category, clarity matters. stayAPT Suites focuses on comfortable spaces and routine-friendly design rather than trends or gimmicks. It’s something that excites chief marketing officer Jennifer Kearney. The brand’s approach aims to meet extended stay needs while remaining accessible to transient travelers, with a focus on reliability and comfort over novelty. It’s clearly working: The brand recently celebrated its 40th location opening, marked by a “40 Acts of Kindness” initiative with each local team contributing a meaningful act in its community.
HOTELS: stayAPT Suites offers a residential-style layout that goes beyond typical hotel accommodations. How does this design strategy appeal to both extended-stay and shorter-term guests?
Kearney: stayAPT Suites’ apartment-style layout, complete with a living room, full kitchen with full-size appliances and a separate private bedroom, gives extended-stay guests space to cook, relax and maintain daily routines. For shorter-term visitors, the design offers more comfort than a standard hotel room, with extra space to spread out and kitchen amenities that make even a quick trip feel more at home.
HOTELS: Many hotel brands focus on either transient or extended-stay travelers. How does stayAPT Suites serve both effectively, and what’s the business case for maintaining that flexibility?
Kearney: The apartment-style footprint broadens our appeal to business or relocation professionals and military, government and healthcare personnel who need a furnished space without leases, and to leisure guests and families who value space to spread out. A consistent base of longer stays reduces daily check-in and check-out churn, which supports operations, and it allows us to confidently capture transient demand when it peaks. Guests benefit from flexibility in length of stay, and owners benefit from a model designed to handle both patterns without diluting the experience.
HOTELS: For prospective franchisees, what makes the stayAPT Suites model attractive from an investment and operational perspective, especially compared to other emerging extended-stay or hybrid brands?
Kearney: Franchisees tell us they value the simplicity and efficiency of our model. Our hotels run lean, typically with five to seven team members per property, supported by technology for after-hours check-in and by a resident general manager who lives on-site. A strong base of longer-term stays reduces daily check-in/check-out churn. Importantly, as an owner within the stayAPT Suites portfolio, the brand also has skin in the game. We think like owners and align decisions with what best supports property-level performance.
HOTELS: You’ve described stayAPT Suites as having all the comforts of home. What are the key features or amenities that deliver on that promise, and how do they resonate with your most profitable guest segments?
Kearney: Our priority is purposeful, usable space. Every suite offers a true living room to work or unwind, a full kitchen for real meals and a private bedroom for rest. We also offer a secure open-air courtyard, giving guests an additional haven for relaxation. The effect is as emotional as it is functional because the layout supports daily rhythms that make longer trips feel familiar. Families on shorter stays appreciate the separate spaces and flexibility, even if they do not use every kitchen feature, for example. It’s good to know it’s there.
HOTELS: Several new brands have entered the hybrid and extended-stay space in recent years. How is stayAPT Suites positioning itself against both traditional competitors and newer concepts?
Kearney: With so many new brands entering the segment, offerings can feel quite similar. We’re proud to have a point of distinction that is consistent across our portfolio. Every one of our suites is truly apartment-style, so guests don’t have to sacrifice a thing. We will continue to focus on design and operations that make longer stays comfortable, while welcoming shorter stays without compromise.
