Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced its new Hyatt Studios brand in April, and has signed a number of franchise agreements in the ensuing four months. In a statement, the company said it expected its first upper-midscale extended-stay brand in the Americas to be a "key accelerator" for Hyatt.
3H Group, founded by Hiren Desai, has entered into a franchise agreement with Hyatt to build the inaugural Hyatt Studios hotel in Tillman’s Corner, just outside of Mobile, Ala. The site will mark Hyatt’s first branded hotel in the area and is located near Mobile Bay’s Gulf Coast. This property is set to open in late 2024.
Presidio Hotel Development has entered into a franchise agreement with Hyatt for a 113-room Hyatt Studios hotel in downtown Marysville, Calif., located in Yuba County and part of the North Sacramento area. Expected to open in 2025, the property will have a custom buildout, including dedicated meeting spaces, to effectively serve the needs of both business travelers and those attending local events in the area.
New Leadership
Under the leadership of Dan Hansen, Hyatt has formed a team to oversee the brand's growth. Hyatt veteran Jason Ballard has been promoted to the position of Head of Operations, Hyatt Studios, reporting directly to Hansen. Since joining Hyatt in 2006, Ballard has held positions in revenue management, capital planning and operations analytics across all three Hyatt regions— Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, Africa and Middle East. He played a critical role in establishing the global footprint of the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brands.
In addition to Ballard, Hyatt has made leadership appointments in finance and commercial services.
The Hyatt Studios brand will join Hyatt’s growing portfolio in the Timeless collection. Each Hyatt Studios hotel will be sized to fit approximately 122 rooms with flexibility to scale up or down.