Spark by Hilton

Spark by Hilton
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryHospitality
FoundedJanuary 2023 (2023-01)
FounderHilton Worldwide
Headquarters
McLean, Virginia
,
United States
Number of locations
242 (2025)[1]
ParentHilton Worldwide
Websitesparkbyhilton.com
Spark by Hilton in Tifton, Georgia, U.S.

Spark by Hilton is a chain of hotels owned by Hilton Worldwide. It was announced in January 2023, with the first hotel opening that September, and as of 2026 had 21,423 rooms in 242 hotels, all franchised.[1] Spark is a premium economy chain designed to consist primarily of conversions of similar hotel buildings. In addition to units in the United States, Hilton has pursued international development of the brand.

History

Hilton announced Spark by Hilton in January 2023 as its 19th brand.[2] It marked the company's first venture in the premium economy segment[3] and its first brand intended to be used to convert existing hotel properties. Hilton quoted the cost of converting an existing hotel to Spark at $20,000 to $25,000 a room, a renovation that includes adding minimalist decor and overhauled lobbies. Converting an existing hotel may be cheaper than renovations necessary to maintain a hotel in the midscale segment or necessary for older units of chains such as Hilton's Hampton Inn that no longer meet current standards.[2] Other chains have developed similar concepts targeted at conversions, such as Garner by IHG.[4] Hilton focused on secondary and tertiary markets for Spark, particularly those where its presence was comparatively lacking.[5]

The first Spark by Hilton opened in September 2023, a 120-room former Days Inn in Mystic, Connecticut.[6][7] The prototype was converted by the owners of a nearby Hilton hotel.[7] Other Spark units that opened in the first year of the chain's existence included former locations of Country Inn and Suites[8] and Hampton Inn[9] and independent hotels.[10]

Spark by Hilton Toronto Markham

Hilton has marketed the Spark brand beyond the United States. The 72-room Spark by Hilton Toronto Markham in Ontario, Canada, opened in 2024 as its first hotel there; a unit in London opened that same year as the first Spark in Europe,[11] and another location in Austria had opened by the end of 2024.[12] In 2024, the company struck a licensing agreement with Olive by Embassy, subsidiary of the Embassy Group, for 150 units in India, primarily in the country's south.[13] Hilton launched Spark in Mexico in February 2025, with the goal of establishing some 25 hotels in the country, focused on mid-size and emerging cities.[14]

As of 2026, the only "newly built" Spark location is the one near Harry Reid International Airport, serving the Las Vegas metro area.[15] Additionally, Saudi Arabia opened its first Spark location, the Spark by Hilton Makkah Aziziyah, in Mecca.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 "Hilton Reports First Quarter Results" (PDF). Hilton. April 28, 2026. Retrieved June 29, 2026.
  2. 1 2 King, Kate (2023-02-06). "Lodging Companies Step Up Efforts to Lure Competitors' Hotels to Their Brands". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
  3. ↑ "New Horizons". Hospitality Design. February–March 2023. pp. 78–83. ProQuest 2785265563.
  4. ↑ Walker, Ben (2024-10-09). "Conversions fuel growth of U.S. limited-service brands". Hotel Management. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
  5. ↑ Fox, Jena Tesse (March 2023). "Hilton enters premium economy space with 19th brand". Hotel Management. p. 12. ProQuest 2785579961.
  6. ↑ Mateer, Noelle (2023-09-20). "First Spark by Hilton hotel opens in Connecticut". Hotel Dive. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  7. 1 2 Fox, Jena Tesse (November–December 2023). "Hilton finds its Spark". Hotel Management. p. 69. ProQuest 2900632874.
  8. ↑ Freile, Victoria E. (March 10, 2024). "NY's first Spark by Hilton hotel opens: Take a peek inside Brighton location". Democrat and Chronicle. p. B1. ProQuest 2954403284.
  9. ↑ Hayhurst, Leonard L. (April 12, 2024). "New hotel: The first Spark by Hilton in Ohio opens in Newcomerstown". Coshocton Tribune. ProQuest 3037228385.
  10. ↑ Smith, Mike (March 31, 2024). "Hotel Artesia renamed Spark by Hilton". Carlsbad Current-Argus. p. A1. ProQuest 3020291749.
  11. ↑ Hertzfeld, Esther (2024-09-13). "Spark by Hilton debuts in Canada". Hotel Management. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
  12. ↑ Fox, Jena Tesse (2025-01-28). "Why 2024 was a record year for Hilton". Hotel Management. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  13. ↑ Limone, Jerry (2024-11-20). "Hilton reaches licensing deal for Spark hotels in India". Travel Weekly. Archived from the original on 2024-11-20. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  14. ↑ Mendoza, Andrea (2025-03-04). "Hilton se suma al economy premium con Spark by Hilton". El Financiero (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2025-04-05. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  15. ↑ Hotels, Hilton. "Spark by Hilton Las Vegas Airport". Spark by Hilton. Hilton Hotels. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Hilton Set to Hit 100 Hotel Milestone in Saudi Arabia". Stories From Hilton - EMEA. May 14, 2025.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.