Extended Stay Hotels: A Comprehensive Messaging Guide

January 22, 2026

This guide is designed to bring clarity, alignment, and consistency to how we, as an industry, speak about and advocate for the extended stay category. It aims to:

Define the distinct characteristics that differentiate extended stay from traditional transient lodging
Provide strategic messaging and positioning that can be used collectively when engaging with local municipalities and decision-makers
Offer a unified framework that fosters industry-wide cohesion in the development, planning, and promotion of extended stay hotels

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Extended Stay Committee (comprised of industry brands, owners, and operators/management companies) developed this resource to drive industry alignment and positioning centric to extended stay hotel properties.

AUTHOR / CONTRIBUTOR

Extended Stay*

Objective: There are increasing and evolving challenges facing the development and operation of Extended Stay hotel properties. Convene an initial working group, comprised of constituent hotel brands, owners, and management companies, to map out strategies to protect and promote Extended Stay hotel product and business models with policymakers and local community leaders.

Who Should Join: GM and above