PHILADELPHIA—Hotels are opening in Philadelphia—a sky-high Four Seasons, a dual-complex of a W and Element—while just-in-Philly properties are strengthening the city’s boutique stock. Altogether, 16 new hotels are unlocking 2,700 new rooms in the city and surrounding four counties.
All this new lodging comes at a time of high visitor demand: In 2018, Center City hotel demand grew 5.6% year-over-year, the largest growth in demand in seven years. So, what else is coming? An efficient, 250-room micro hotel (Pod Philly) and a 14-room boutique hotel and private lifestyle club (Fitler Club), a historic New Hope redo (Ghost Light Inn) and more new properties in Philadelphia and the countryside. Here’s a look at the hotels opening through 2020:
Just opened:
Lokal Fishtown—Following the stylish formula it established in Old City, the Lokal in Fishtown operates with an “invisible service” boutique model. Guests receive highly customized concierge guidance without a front desk.
- Completed: January 2019
- Developer: Stay Lokal
- Units: 6
- Location: 1421 N. Front St., Fishtown
Coming in 2019:
Fitler Club—This boutique hotel and members-only pool-and bowling alley-equipped lifestyle club will give new life to the former Marketplace Design Center.
- Expected Completion: March 2019
- Developer: David Gutstadt
- Rooms: 14
- Location: 2400 Market St., Center City West
Holiday Inn & Suites Philadelphia W – Drexel Hill Hotel—On the edge of Philadelphia’s Drexel Hill neighborhood, this Holiday Inn & Suites will include an on-site restaurant, Starlight, complete with an outdoor beer garden, along with a fitness center and heated outdoor pool.
- Expected Completion: May 2019
- Developer: Drexelbrook Associates
- Rooms: 98
- Location: 5400 Ferne Blvd., Drexel Hill
Candlewood Suites Chester – Airport Area—Each of these pet-friendly suites will feature a spacious kitchen with a stovetop, dishwasher and full-size refrigerator. Guests are proximate to the Philadelphia Union’s home field at Talen Energy Stadium. There’s also an outdoor grilling area in the hotel courtyard.
- Expected Completion: June 2019
- Developer: Sunset Hotel Group
- Suites: 89, including six accessible rooms
- Location: 351 Welsh St., Chester
Homewood Suites by Hilton Horsham Willow Grove—This four-story hotel will feature one- and two-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens, along with an indoor pool.
- Expected Completion: September 2019
- Developer: Horsham Hotel LP
- Rooms: 112
- Location: 720 Blair Mill Rd., Horsham
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia—Guests arrive to the hotel’s sky lobby on the 60th floor of the Comcast Technology Center via high-speed elevators. From there, they can ease into their stay with a wellness trip to the spa, fitness facility and infinity pool on the 57th floor. Restaurants helmed by award-winning chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Greg Vernick will draw both nearby and visiting culinary enthusiasts.
- Expected Completion: Summer 2019
- Developer: Comcast/Liberty Property Trust
- Rooms: 219
- Location: One N. 19th St., Center City
Ghost Light Inn—Next door to the Bucks County Playhouse, this historic site—formerly the Playhouse Inn—will be revitalized this summer. The building will connect to the brand-new riverwalk, with views of the Delaware River.
- Expected Completion: Summer 2019
- Developer: Bridge Street Foundation, Mills + Schnoering Architects LLC
- Rooms: 15
- Location: 50 S. Main St., New Hope
Tru by Hilton Audubon–Valley Forge—Vibrant, affordable, comfortable rooms comprise this hotel, located close to the King of Prussia Mall, the largest shopping mall on the East Coast.
- Expected Completion: October 2019
- Developer: Audubon Land Development
- Rooms: 121
- Location: 825 Forge Ave., Audubon
Home2 Suites by Hilton—This hotel will have 70,000 sq. ft. of extended-stay suites with full kitchens. Guests will be able to get a workout and wash clothes in Spin2Cycle, the hotel’s combination laundry and fitness area.
- Expected Completion: Fall 2019
- Developer: Roch Capital Inc.
- Rooms: 109
- Location: 75 Applied Bank Blvd., Glen Mills
Pod Philly—The micro-hotel pioneer arrives in town via an efficient, 11-story Rittenhouse Square building. Philadelphia restaurateurs Greg Root, Chef Nick Kennedy and Al Lucas will operate a first-floor restaurant, coffee shop and rooftop restaurant and bar.
- Expected Completion: Fall 2019
- Developer: Modus Hotels & Parkway Corporation
- Rooms: 252
- Location: 31 S. 19th St., Rittenhouse Square
Home2 Suites by Hilton Ridley Park Philadelphia Airport South—With more than 100 suites, this extended-stay hotel will cater to both business and leisure travelers.
- Expected Completion: December 2019
- Developer: 145 Stewart Partners
- Rooms: 113
- Location: 145 S. Stewart Ave., Ridley Park
MainStay Suites/Ascend Hotel Collection—Locally inspired artwork will bring the city inside the hotel, and guests who still want a workout after traversing the walkable surrounding city area can pop into the fitness center.
- Expected Completion: Winter 2019
- Developer: Landmark Property Group
- Suites: 118
- Location: 917 Arch St., Chinatown
Slated for 2020:
W Philadelphia and Element Philadelphia—This is a 52-story, dual-hotel complex. Each floor looks a little different than any of the others.
- Expected Completion: Early 2020
- Developer: Chestlen Development
- Rooms: 295 in the W Philadelphia, 460 in the Element Philadelphia (755 total)
- Location: 15th & Chestnut Streets, Center City
WoodSpring Suites—The 48,000-sq.-ft. site of this extended-stay concept will feature fully equipped kitchens and a small exercise room.
- Expected Completion: Early 2020
- Developer: Brookwood Hotels
- Rooms: 122
- Location: Montgomery County, 101 Lee Dr., Plymouth Meeting
The Hyatt Centric Hotel—This 13-story new construction promises a large, rustic modern hotel. An outdoor terrace and onsite underground parking will complement the hotel’s proximity to Rittenhouse Row’s shops, restaurants, boutiques, galleries and bars.
- Expected Completion Date: Mid-2020
- Developer: DAS Architects
- Rooms: 322
- Location: 17th & Chancellor Streets, Center City
Live! Hotel & Casino Philadelphia—This complex will bring Philadelphia its second casino within city limits, near South Philadelphia’s trio of sports arenas. The $700-million, 1.5 million sq.-ft. hotel and casino will have 2,200 slots, more than 150 table games and more than 200 hotel rooms.
- Expected Completion: December 2020
- Developer: The Cordish Companies
- Rooms: 200+
- Location: 900 Packer Ave., South Philadelphia
