Hospitality America has been selected by Contender Development to manage the Element by Marriott Charleston Airport in North Charleston, S.C. Scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2025, the 123-room upscale extended-stay hotel will feature a restaurant, 24/7 motion fitness center, all-natural saline outdoor pool, and 500 square feet of meeting space.
This is the eighth Marriott hotel in the Hospitality America portfolio and the second property managed for owner Contender Development; the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Asheville West is also owned by Contender Development and operated by Hospitality America. The hotel will be located two miles from Charleston International Airport and eight miles from historic downtown Charleston.
“Our team is excited to bring the Element brand to Charleston with this new airport hotel,” said Adam Plous, Contender Development COO. “Our goal is to partner with great companies and working with Marriott to bring this hotel to ‘The Holy City’ is a thrill for us. As always, we are proud and delighted to have the team from Hospitality America as our operating partner.”
With a nod to well-being and balance while on the road, the Element by Westin brand is designed for today’s healthy, active travelers who want to maintain the balance of daily routines while on the road. It caters to people looking to stay both short and long-term. All hotels have an outdoor-inspired, sustainability-focused design philosophy and feature spacious and airy guestrooms with in-room kitchens, and spa-inspired bathrooms. The brand’s signature amenities include a complimentary healthful Rise breakfast and a Relax evening reception. It showcases amazing guestrooms with large spaces and kitchens that will attract both short term guests visiting for a couple nights, and extended stay travelers that need a place to call home for a month.
“The addition of soft and lifestyle brands like Element to the Hospitality America portfolio signals our intention to expand our capacity to support our partners as they seek to develop unique properties in highly coveted gateway locations and emerging markets where hard brand requirements can otherwise create hurdles to build,” said Daniel Lock, Hospitality America VP, commercial strategy.
“While consumers continue to drive demand towards customizations and unique experiences, cities like ‘Chucktown’ that seek new development, and brands like Element that cater to extended-stay guests and seasoned business travelers, are what make guest experiences memorable and unique,” Lock said. “We are delighted to expand our relationship with Contender Development and look forward to making this asset profitable for owners and a relevant choice for leisure, business, and bleisure travelers alike.”
Steady Rise of Extended Stay
Researchers project the global extended-stay hotel market will reach $22.03 billion in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2024 to 2029, reaching $31.48 billion by 2029. Factors influencing growth include the rapid expansion of relocation services, an increasing number of people working on project-based work, growing number of digital nomads, and higher affordability of extended-stay hotels compared to traditional hotels.
“Charleston has been named one of the top 20 destinations in the world by Travel + Leisure and the No. 1 city in the United States and Canada by Condé Nast Traveler readers,” said Ben Campbell, Hospitality America CEO. “It is the ideal location for both the Element brand and for Hospitality America. With five hotels in the Carolinas and the Element by Westin becoming the sixth for us next year, we have a strong grasp on this region and can easily anticipate and deliver on guests’ demands and owner expectations.
“Extended-stay hotels are rising in popularity because they provide more convenience and value than select-service brands by targeting a niche segment of the travel industry,” Campbell said. “With this brand coming to Charleston – a market rich in landmarks, culture, cuisine, Southern charm, walkability, and vibrant architecture – we are confident that Hospitality America will quickly drive ADR, occupancy and RevPAR and make it one of the most sought-after hotels for business travelers and bleisure guests.”
