MOBILE, ALA.—Almost exactly two years after the brand was first announced, Hyatt Hotels Corp. has officially opened its debut Hyatt Studios hotel. Following the property’s February soft opening in the Tillmans Corner neighborhood of Mobile, Ala., local officials, Hyatt leaders, hotel owners and operators and community members gathered to celebrate the milestone—and talk about how the brand is gaining ground.
Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian spoke to the crowd before the ribbon cutting and emphasized what a group effort the brand and the property itself were. Owner and developer 3H Group had been involved nearly since the brand was revealed, and Hoplamazian highlighted the contributions of Hiren Desai, the company’s president and CEO. Desai, Hoplamazian said, made a number of changes to the prototype as the property took shape. “He continuously tweaked and we adapted and learned from him, and he's going to take those learnings to the next hotel and to the next and to the next.”
Hoplamazian also had high praise for Dan Hansen, global head of Hyatt Studios, who he described as the man responsible for breaking “every single rule” Hyatt has. “He doesn't believe in asking for permission, only for forgiveness,” Hoplamazian quipped. Still, he noted, Hansen’s instincts helped him pull a team together in four and a half months to take Hyatt Studios from concept to operating hotel in two years.
During the ceremony, General Manager Aaron McIntosh was presented with a platinum record to honor the Studio name and celebrate the debut property. The plaque, McIntosh said, would be kept back-of-house for the hotel's team to see every day.
Extended-Stay Design
Hyatt Studios Mobile / Tillmans Corners has 122 studio apartment-style suites, each with a full kitchen (including a full-size refrigerator, built-in cooktop, microwave with air fryer and convection-oven capabilities, dishwasher and essential cookware), sleeping area and lounge area with a sofa or sleeper sofa.
“The conceptual experience we wanted people to have was to feel a sense of spaciousness,” Hoplamazian told the crowd. The guestrooms were designed to feel large and provide “space to roam,” he explained, but also convey a sense of coziness. “And I think we actually achieved it.”
“Everything you see is intentional,” Beau Benton, CEO of management company LBA Hospitality, said, noting “mistakes” in other extended-stay guestroom designs. “That's why Hiren [Desai] makes the changes.”
Public spaces include a 24/7 market in the lobby, a free grab-and-go breakfast, a 24-hour Fitness Studio, a self-service laundry, an outdoor patio with a firepit and grill and the Borrows Program that lets guests borrow blenders, board games, and items for kids and pets. The brand also uses free fiber internet and has EV charging stations at all properties.
Hyatt Studios is part of Hyatt’s Essentials Portfolio, a collection of focused-service brands including Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, HyattHouse, and Hyatt Select.
A Growing Market
Located in Tillmans Corner, less than 10 miles from Mobile International Airport, the hotel is close to downtown Mobile, Gulf Coast attractions and nearby corporate offices. In addition to the city’s tourism appeal, Mobile is a hub for the manufacturing, aerospace, maritime and healthcare industries.
In his remarks to the attendees, Hoplamazian said Mobile has “a lot of momentum for the future,” especially with an “active” port and a factory for constructing Airbus planes “So there's a lot going on in this market, and we're thrilled to be here, and very much look[ing] forward to being a full-fledged member of the community.”
Next Steps
3H Group has further Hyatt Studios projects underway in Huntsville, Ala., and Jacksonville, Fla. Expanding its portfolio across Hyatt’s Essentials Portfolio, 3H Group continues to grow with additional Hyatt developments, including a Caption by Hyatt hotel in Chattanooga, Tenn, set to open in 2026 as the market’s first Hyatt hotel, the recent acquisition of Hyatt Place Tampa Airport/Westshore, which will undergo a renovation, and a new construction dual-brand Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels in East Nashville, Tenn.
The brand has more than 50 hotels in the pipeline with several locations under construction. “We're just going to keep making it better, and that's our commitment to all of you as prospective guests and promoters for the brand,” Hoplamazian told the crowd.
Stay tuned for Hotel Management's exclusive interview with Dan Hansen, global head of Hyatt Studios, and Emily Wright, VP and global brand leader for Hyatt's Classics and Essentials brands.