News Summary
Columbia, South Carolina, is set to welcome a LivSmart hotel by Hilton in 2026, featuring 113 rooms tailored for extended stays. Located at 175 Stoneridge Drive, the hotel will offer amenities like kitchenettes and weekly housekeeping, catering to long-term travelers. Its strategic location near attractions and increasing demand for extended stay options positions it as a valuable addition to the local hospitality landscape.
Columbia, South Carolina is set to welcome a new extended stay hotel under the LivSmart brand by Hilton, with plans for the hotel to open its doors in the second quarter of 2026. The LivSmart hotel will be situated at 175 Stoneridge Drive, conveniently located near the well-known intersection of Malfunction Junction.
The city has granted construction permits for the hotel, which will offer 113 rooms across four floors. Each room will be equipped with small kitchenettes, specifically designed to facilitate longer stays, catering to guests who intend to stay more than 20 nights. This focus on accommodation is one of the central tenets of the LivSmart brand, which Hilton unveiled in January 2024.
LivSmart hotels are tailored for long-term travelers by providing essential amenities such as weekly housekeeping services and streamlined check-in and check-out processes, allowing for ease of use for guests who are temporarily living away from home.
Strategic Location and Growing Demand
The new LivSmart hotel will be adjacent to another Hilton property, the Tru by Hilton, and located near a recently closed Embassy Suites by Hilton. This positioning in an area with an increasing number of hotels, including other extended stay properties, underscores Columbia’s appeal for long-term visitors. The vicinity also boasts nearby attractions such as Riverbanks Zoo, making it an attractive location for families and groups.
Columbia’s hotel sector has seen a surge in demand for extended stay accommodations, particularly from families visiting students at local universities. This growing trend was highlighted by the recent development of a new 124-room hotel near Columbiana Mall, along with the Homewood Suites in the Vista community. The increased focus on extended stay options has been particularly evident since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shifted traveler priorities towards longer stays and reduced staffing needs.
Market Dynamics and Future Developments
Real estate experts suggest that the market for extended stay hotels in Columbia is currently underserved, presenting numerous opportunities for future developments. The opening of the LivSmart hotel is expected to address this gap and capitalize on the ongoing demand. The growing trend for extended stays is indicative of broader changes in travel behaviors and preferences.
The presence of educational institutions in the city significantly contributes to the high demand for extended stay accommodations. As more families travel to Columbia to visit their loved ones, hotels like LivSmart are well-positioned to serve these guests by offering comfortable, home-like environments suitable for longer durations.
As construction plans for the LivSmart hotel progress, the community looks forward to enhancing its hospitality offerings while simultaneously providing accommodations that meet the evolving needs of travelers. The anticipated opening of this new hotel marks an important addition to Columbia’s hotel landscape.
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Additional Resources
- Post and Courier: LivSmart Hilton Hotel
- Columbia Business Report: New Hotel in Vista District
- Hotel Investment Today: New Construction Trends
- WFXG: Columbia County Curfew Extended
- Columbia – A Daily: New Extended Stay Marriott Proposed
- Wikipedia: Columbia, South Carolina
- Google Search: Extended Stay Hotels Columbia
- Google Scholar: Extended Stay Hotels
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Travel Trends
- Google News: Columbia South Carolina Hotels
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
