Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1547130
8 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | OCTOBER 19, 2026 U.S. EXTENDED-STAY HOTEL PERFORMANCE JULY 2025 JULY 2026 % CHANGE Room-night supply 19.3M 20.2M 4.7% Room revenue $1.84B $2.03B 10.4% Occupancy 77.60% 78.80% 1.5% Average daily rate $122.59 $127.41 3.9% Source: The Highland Group, U.S. Extended-Stay Hotels Bulletin, July 2026. DE AL WATCH opment pipeline has since grown to roughly 25 hotels, Paliwal said. It uses a standardized four-story, 118-room design with kitchens, suites and digital check-in. Plans for each property call for roughly 280-square-foot king suites, 320-square-foot double- queen rooms and four larger family suites. G6 requires the hotels to be newly built to provide a more consistent experience than its existing Studio 6 portfolio, which includes converted properties and hotels of varying ages, Paliwal said. The model is also designed to operate with a relatively small workforce. Patel said each Studio 6 Plus hotel is expected to employ just six to 10 people. That's considerably fewer than the 30 to 35 employees at Kautilya Group's 145-room dual-branded Marriott hotel in East Hartford, which opened in June following extensive renovations. Paliwal said longer stays reduce guest turnover and housekeeping demands. Digital check-in and other technology are also intended to reduce operating demands. "The biggest thing is there is very minimal labor required to run these hotels," Patel said. "There is lower labor and operating costs. (Finding) labor is a challenge right now, so that is attractive. There is no big, fancy lobby. There is lower development costs, helping to operate with a higher margin." Those staffing and cost concerns extend across Connecti- cut's hotel industry, said Suzanne Cahill, executive director of the Connecticut Lodging Association. Cahill said rising operating expenses and difficulty recruiting workers are among the industry's biggest challenges. Housekeeping, front desk, food service and main- tenance positions have become particularly difficult to fill, she said. Increasing insurance and utility costs, along with regulatory compli- ance requirements, are putting additional pressure on operators. Cahill said G6 Hospitality's planned investment demonstrates confidence in Connecticut's lodging market and could help accommodate travelers seeking longer stays. Further expansion The five-hotel agreement builds on a longstanding relationship between Patel and Paliwal, who said they have known each other for nearly 18 years and previously worked together on hotels in the Hartford market. Patel also previously owned Motel 6 fran- chises, which he has since sold. Paliwal said G6 Hospitality hopes Patel's commitment will lead to addi- tional development in the Northeast, including more hotels in Connecticut. Patel said he could look for oppor- tunities in the New London, Mystic, New Haven and Stamford areas, as well as in other New England states. Patel currently has a portfolio of 10 hotels and is negotiating to sell six properties in the Midwest to focus on the Northeast. He also plans to open additional hotels under other brands, potentially including Hilton and Marriott. "I want to run quality hotels; I'm not worried about the count," Patel said. "I want to make every guest happy." Longer Stays Continued from page 7 107 Old Windsor Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002 | 860.242.8586 | pdsec.com Flex Shop Space For Rent CONSTRUCTING EXCELLENCE PDS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC Startline Business Park 100 South Satellite Road, South Windsor Individual Bays 1,200 SF to 10,000 SF INCLUDES • Bathroom • Unit Heater • 14' Overhead Door CONTACT DANJ@PDSEC.COM IF INTERESTED.