DALLAS--Bill Duncan is the global head of Home2 Suites and Homewood Suites, the former of which opened last month in College Station. He recently spoke with GlobeSt.com's Anna Caplan about the state of the extended-stay market in Texas and the southwest.

GlobeSt.com: What makes Texas in particular so good for the extended-stay market?

Bill Duncan: Texas is an ideal location for the extended-stay product due to its concentration of major corporations, branches of the military, educational institutions, healthcare centers and tourist attractions. Business and leisure travelers frequent not only the state's major cities, but also smaller markets, like College Station – home of Texas A&M – Midland and Amarillo, and many of these travelers require accommodations for more than five nights. Additionally, there is a strong network of developers in the state who are interested in growing their hotel portfolios with extended-stay brands. We have several developers who have both Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites properties in Texas, due in part to the availability of land for development, and the appeal of the model's relatively low cost per key and smaller land requirement needed to build. 

GlobeSt.com: Can you give us a little background on the Home2 Suites concept?

Duncan: Home2 Suites by Hilton was launched in 2009 to meet the needs of value-conscious travelers seeking a mid-tier extended stay option. The first hotel opened in Fayetteville, N.C., in 2011, and to-date the brand has nearly 50 properties open across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The hotels offer all-suite accommodations with separate living and sleeping areas, in-room kitchens equipped with a full-size refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave oven and coffeemaker, and movable furniture allowing guests to customize their experience. The hotels are also pet-friendly. Home2 Suites hotels also feature signature common areas to encourage interaction and provide added value for guests. Travelers staying at Home2 Suites enjoy a complimentary breakfast at the Inspired Table…Guests can also enjoy the Oasis, an expanded community space catering to social gatherings as well as providing individual work and meeting zones. 

Additionally, each property has a Spin2 Cycle, a combined fitness and laundry area, a saline pool, and many also include a walking trail around the perimeter of the property. Home2 Suites places a strong focus on sustainability, with green-friendly standard features throughout, ranging from flooring comprised of recycled carpet tiles to stocking the in-suite kitchens with real china and silverware.  

GlobeSt.com: How does it differ from other concepts?

Duncan: Home2 Suites was created to fill a need in the market for a midscale extended-stay brand with a modern design and spacious accommodations at a cost-conscious price point. We turned to our developers and guests to gather their input on what they wanted to see in the brand, and addressed the key requests we received – communal spaces, eco-friendly attributes and a socially conscious outlook.   

Home2 Suites' community initiative, Your2 Hands, is a way for the hotel and the employees that work there to make an impact in the communities where they are located. Each hotel selects a charity and donates both through volunteer hours and financially, and we have opened this program up to guests to allow those who want to give back to be able to do so.  Our Your2 Hands partners have included community gardens, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston and the Fisher House, which serves military families. 

GlobeSt.com: Where else do you hope to expand in Texas?

Duncan: By the end of 2015, Home2 Suites is expected to more than double its number of properties in Texas, the largest concentration of the brand in any state.  We will continue to grow with our next property opening in Midland in early 2015.  We also have hotels under construction in Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo, Irving, Shenandoah, and two in Austin and the city's surrounding areas.

GlobeSt.com: How do you choose markets/locations?

Duncan: We are constantly seeking new locations that make sense for the brand to expand. We work closely with our developers to evaluate new destinations and whether or not they are the right fit for the Home2 Suites brand.