Extended Stay Opens 95-Room Hotel Near Mayo

ROCHESTER, MN-Extended Stay America recently opened a three-story, 95-room Extended StayAmerica Efficiency Studios hotel here. The extended-stay lodging market is the fastest growing segment of the hotel industry in its appeal to business professionals, people relocating and those on extended work assignments, says George D. Johnson, Jr., chief executive of the Spartanburg, SC-based lodging company.

On average, the company says it will spend about $9 million in development costs on new properties this year, such as the Rochester hotel.

One of the largest employers in Rochester is the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, which would likelygenerate business for the hotel for patients or their families who are undergoing prolonged treatment at the medical facility. Extended Stay has six properties in the Twin Cities; the Rochester property is its first Minnesota hotel outside the Twin Cities.

“The appeal of our hotels reaches beyond the business and corporate community,” says Mike Wilson, vice president of marketing for Extended Stay. “Besides being ideal for professionals on extended or temporaryassignments such as consulting or training, our properties are perfect for people building homes, relocating or attending family functions.”

Weekly room rates for the new Extended StayAmerica, which is located at 2814 43rd Street NW, are available from $279 to $309, while nightly rates are available from $55 on up. Guest rooms at Extended StayAmerica properties include a queen-size bed, recliner, cable TV with remote, free voice mail, free local calls and a computer data port. Each room also has a kitchen with a refrigerator, two-burner range, microwave, coffee maker, utensils and tableware. The property features a 24-hour, coin-operated, on-site laundry facility for guests. Guests are provided with weekly housekeeping service and twice-weekly towel service.

Five to six full-time and eight to 10 part-time employees generally staff properties.

Extended Stay America, Inc. was founded in January 1995 by Johnson and H. Wayne Huizenga, both formerly associated with Blockbuster Entertainment Corp. The company is the fastest-growing company-owned and operated hotel chain in US history with 417 extended-stay lodging hotels in 40 states, which includes 94 StudioPLUS Deluxe Studios, 284 Extended StayAmerica Efficiency Studios and 39 Crossland Economy Studios facilities.