Hospitality industry legend Jack DeBoer, founder of Residence Inn, Summerfield Suites and Candlewood Suites, has brought his new concept to the Kansas City area, the first of its kind in the market.
Oakwood WaterWalk is a collaboration between DeBoer’s WaterWalk, a unique development concept in the travel industry that combines the space and comfort of apartment living with the services of a hotel, and Oakwood, the premier global provider of furnished housing and serviced apartment solutions.
The gated community, located at 11200 Glenwood St. in Overland Park, Kansas, consists of two separate, four-story buildings - one with 78 all-inclusive unfurnished apartments and one with 75 furnished corporate units. Both have access to a full-range of amenities, including 24/7 onsite staff to take care of anything the guests may need.
With one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, business and individual travelers can book short- and long-term stays and choose from furnished or unfurnished suites.
“In researching emerging markets across the United States, we identified Overland Park as a top priority for growth and development. It’s an exceptional residential neighborhood with a need for more long-term accommodation options, but we also saw an opportunity to expand our short-term housing solutions in a high-traffic, business-dense area. With Oakwood WaterWalk, we can provide both,”said Mimi Rogers, WaterWalk president.
Oakwood WaterWalk pricing includes all utilities, high-speed internet, DirecTV cable television, and phone service for nightly or monthly rates. All guests can also enjoy an on-site fitness center, 24/7 front desk service, and full-size appliances (including in-room washer and dryer) while furnished corporate (Gold) units include a fully-equipped modern kitchen, breakfast delivery and housekeeping.
“Since we announced our strategic partnership, we’ve already seen a significant spike in interest from Oakwood customers and guests, as well as inquiring investors and franchisees,” said Mandeep Singh, Oakwood chief operating officer.
“The Oakwood WaterWalk model fully satisfies the wide spectrum of needs across the extended stay, multifamily and corporate housing segments, and investors are satisfied with the return on investment that is significantly above the hotel industry average – with much lower operating costs as well.,” Singh said.
The surrounding neighborhood includes a mixture of retail, restaurant, lodging, and office and provides easy access to arterial and freeway corridors for accessibility throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area.
“WaterWalk is headquartered in Wichita, and we’re proud to continue investing in and expanding across Kansas. It’s an exciting time for our company. We’ve opened six new locations in key markets across Kansas, Texas and Colorado, and we have a strong development pipeline,” said Rogers.
Oakwood, wholly owned by Mapletree Investments, celebrated the grand opening of its newest Oakwood WaterWalk property yesterday.
Wichita-based JACO Construction served as the contractor for the project; LK Architecture as architect; and WaterWalk RE Development Services LLC as the developer.