Marriott International Inc. has broken ground on its inaugural StudioRes brand hotel, as Concord Hospitality began construction of its first property in Fort Myers, FL. First announced in June 2023, StudioRes is Marriott’s new midscale extended-stay brand in the U.S. & Canada.
The property in Fort Myers is projected to open in spring 2025 and is being developed by Concord with its long-time partner Whitman Peterson. Concord expects to develop around 50 StudioRes properties, spanning several dozen submarkets in major U.S. cities, with several more slated to break ground in the coming months.
At 124 rooms and 54,000 sq. ft., the StudioRes prototype is expected to be Marriott’s most affordable cost-per-key product to develop and build, according to the company. It includes fully furnished studio rooms with kitchens and queen beds. Public spaces will offer daily coffee service, a fitness center, laundry room, vending area, communal table and a covered patio.
“The groundbreaking of the first StudioRes hotel is a significant milestone for Marriott International as we continue to work toward our goal of expanding offerings to meet the needs of guests for every stay purpose,” said Noah Silverman, global development officer, U.S. & Canada, Marriott International. “Taking a new-build brand from announcement in June to groundbreaking in January is thrilling, and we’re grateful for the longstanding relationship we have with Concord Hospitality and Whitman Peterson to bring the StudioRes vision to life.”
Those who attended the groundbreaking ceremony included Tony Capuano, Marriott International president/CEO, and Liam Brown, group president, U.S. & Canada, along with other senior leaders from the company. They joined Mark Laport, Concord Hospitality CEO/president, and Whitman Peterson cofounder/co-Managing Partner Bob Whitman and Partner Paul Novak.
“Concord Hospitality has enjoyed a longstanding, successful relationship with Marriott,” said Laport. “It has been a collaboration of trust, quality and strategic growth, which is why Marriott has welcomed Concord as an active advisor in the development and design standards of many of their current hotel prototypes. Today’s groundbreaking on Marriott’s first StudioRes property is yet another milestone achievement for us as Concord continues to remain a top-choice developer and operator for hotels in North America.”
