HUNTSVILLE – As Huntsville stretches its wings as a popular destination for short- and long-term travelers, ground was broken this week on WaterWalk, an innovative extended-stay concept that will give those travelers more flexible lodging options.
The 126-room “live” or “stay” hotel will be on Perimeter Parkway, near the intersection of Research Park Boulevard and University Drive in Huntsville.
“In 2021 alone, Huntsville saw 3.7 million visitors,” said WaterWalk CEO Mimi Oliver. “It’s the largest city in Alabama and hosts business travelers year-round. As a home base for many major industries, Huntsville allows us to help fill the growing demand for flexible lodging.
“It is clear that how and where we work is rapidly changing, and we are excited to be at the forefront of helping individuals take advantage of that growth.”
WaterWalk offers what some say is a “liberating hotel and personalized experience” with spacious, curated suites and the option to select a live or stay experience. As emerging consumer behaviors and evolving market trends show, hotel guests enjoy having that choice.
For longer-length stays, WaterWalk guests can choose Live units, which are unfurnished and fully customizable. For shorter stays, guests may prefer Stay units, which include stylish, comfortable furnishings.
The Kansas-based hospitality company has WaterWalk properties in Wichita and Overland Park, Kan.; Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.; Denver, Dallas, San Antonio, and Minneapolis.
In addition to Huntsville, there are properties under construction in Phoenix, Boise, Jacksonville and Tucson, with more than 20 properties in the development pipeline.
The WaterWalk team led by Oliver, granddaughter to the late Jack DeBoer who founded the extended stay concept, has developed hotel brands including Residence Inn, Summerfield Suites, Candlewood Suites and WoodSpring Suites.
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