Rob Radomski, InterContinental Hotels Group global vice president of extended-stay brands, unveiled Staybridge Suites’ new look to 80 or so owners at last week’s annual leadership conference in Washington D.C. Radomski wanted an out-of-the-box look, so he went outside the box to find the designers to create it. 

IHG partnered with Savannah College of Art and Design to create a class curriculum focused on designing the new Staybridge Suites interior. Nineteen students took the graduate-level class, which was entirely devoted to this project, and divided into four groups to design potential options. Radomski’s team chose the two best fits. Model rooms were built in Atlanta, and the Staybridge Suites McLean-Tysons Corner (VA) was the site of last week’s field trip from the IHG conference.

The options—called Spice and Vista—will be available early next year and Radomski expects the first location with the complete look to debut in the summer with any new builds on order this January. Pieces of the packages could be seen next spring with properties scheduled for renovation early in the year. The Spice package takes inspiration from classic textile designs, warm color, bold patterns and rich texture, while Vista is highlighted by fresh color, organic patterns and subtle textures.

Both options offer contemporary and eco-conscious guest friendly designs. Kitchens feature reconfigured upper cabinets to reduce space (and cost, for owners), while frosted acrylic panels improve functionality as guests can easily find what they need. Quartz kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities, low-VOC paints and tile made from pre- and/or post-consumer recycled material are some of the sustainable features.

Modular carpet tile in the bedroom and living area provides flexible installation and savings potential as individual tiles can be replaced as needed. Porcelain planks in the bathroom and wood laminate flooring in the kitchen add to the residential feel. Flexibility is at the heart of the new design: Nesting tables provide easily movable surfaces, while ottoman cubes offer extra seating, storage and even a place to eat or work if the upholstered tops are flipped over.

We recognized that if we wanted an out-of-the-box result, we needed an out-of-the-box approach,” Radomski said during an interview at the conference, adding that cost and timing also played a key role in the decision to partner with Savannah College. The idea came to fruition in late 2008, the curriculum was set up by January and the designs were done in three months. IHG paid for materials and awarded scholarships to the two students who took the lead on the winning entries. They became project coordinators in Atlanta over the summer and helped finalize the specifications.

Staybridge Suites has 174 locations open globally with another 137 in the pipeline. Candlewood Suites, IHG’s other extended-stay offering, has 250 locations in North America and 187 under development.