Dive Brief:
- Residential hospitality operator Mint House, which aims to offer travelers the “comfort of home and the convenience and service of a hotel,” opened an apartment-style hospitality property in Madison, Wisconsin, the operator announced in a Thursday release obtained by Hotel Dive.
- The Dylin offers 55 units, ranging from studios to a seven-bedroom home, all of which are equipped with a full kitchen, an in-room washer and dryer and spacious living areas, per the release. Amenities at the “aparthotel” include meeting spaces and a fitness center, Mint House detailed.
- The property, in a desirable college-town market, represents Mint House’s first opening after its acquisition of Austin, Texas-based Locale last month. The operator plans to open additional properties this spring as it fortifies its presence in the rapidly expanding apartment-style accommodations space, CEO Christian Lee shared with Hotel Dive.
Dive Insight:
With The Dylin, Mint House expands its portfolio to 22 properties across 13 markets. The opening comes on the heels of the company acquiring Locale’s portfolio of 12 apartment-style hospitality properties last month.
Located in Wisconsin’s capital city — home to the state’s largest university — The Dylin blends “stylish apartment living and boutique hotel charm,” according to Mint House.
The property offers a mix of studios, one- and two-bedroom suites and larger three-bedroom units. Additionally, there are two houses on site, one totaling six bedrooms and the other totaling seven. The houses can accommodate up to 10 and 14 guests, respectively, or split into individual units, according to the property’s website.
With its range of flexible accommodations, The Dylin is “unlike anything else available on the market,” Lee said in a statement. The property captures unique demand generated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as “one of the most exciting Big 10 college towns in the country,” he added.
“University and college towns like Madison present a uniquely attractive demand profile for apartment-style accommodations,” Lee told Hotel Dive. “These markets benefit from a steady year-round flow of visitors, including faculty on temporary assignments, guest lecturers, parents, and families of students, as well as attendees of academic conferences and high-profile sporting events.”
Additionally, he said, corporate travelers “frequently visit these areas to conduct business with universities or regional companies and are seeking accommodations that offer the space, comfort, parking, and amenities to support both productivity and relaxation.”
Markets with universities have proven to drive demand for long-term accommodations, extended stay hotel leader Matt McElhare, of Choice Hotels International, shared with Hotel Dive earlier this month.
“Despite consistent demand, there’s often a limited supply of high-quality, extended-stay options in college towns,” Lee said. “That gap creates a strong opportunity for Mint House.”
Beyond college towns, travelers across the board are seeking upscale apartment-style offerings for their “home-like” experience and hotel-like consistency and service, Lee said.
To cater to increased demand, Mint House will open a property in Washington, D.C., this spring, per the release. Additionally, Mint House plans to open a property in Nashville, Tennessee, in June, followed by up to three properties in Philadelphia; Baltimore; and Tampa, Florida, Lee told Hotel Dive.
“Our focus continues to be on high-growth urban markets where we see strong demand for flexible, tech-forward accommodations — particularly in cities with a healthy mix of corporate, leisure, and extended-stay travelers,” he said.
Other hospitality players expanding in the apartment-style accommodations sector include Marriott International and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
