WaterWalk International opened its sixth property—and first since entering a multiyear partnership with Oakwood this May—in Overland Park, Kan. The Oakwood WaterWalk-branded property features a mix of furnished corporate lodging units and unfurnished one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
Of the property’s 153 units, 78 are unfurnished and 75 are furnished. Rates include utilities, high-speed internet, DirecTV cable television and phone service for nightly or monthly rates. All guests have access to an onsite fitness center, 24/7 front-desk service and full-size appliances (including in-room washer and dryer).
“It’s an exciting time for our company; we’ve opened six new locations in key markets across Kansas, Texas and Colorado, and we have a strong development pipeline,” Mimi Rogers, president of WaterWalk, said in a statement. “In researching emerging markets across the United States, we identified Overland Park as a top priority for growth and development. It’s an exceptional residential neighborhood with a need for more long-term accommodation options, but we also saw an opportunity to expand our short-term housing solutions in a high-traffic, business-dense area. With Oakwood WaterWalk, we can provide both.”
Overland Park is a suburb of the greater Kansas City metropolitan area and the second largest city in the state. The new Oakwood WaterWalk property marks the brand’s second in the state and first in the Kansas City area.
“Since we announced our partnership, we’ve already seen a significant spike in interest from Oakwood customers and guests, as well as inquiring investors and franchisees,” Mandeep Singh, Oakwood's COO, said in a statement. “The Oakwood WaterWalk model fully satisfies the wide spectrum of needs across the extended stay, multifamily and corporate housing segments, and investors are satisfied with the return on investment that is significantly above the hotel industry average–with much lower operating costs as well.”