Tempo by Hilton: The New Hotel Brand for Overworked Millennials
Hilton unveiled today a new hotel brand built for what the company calls “modern achievers,” who are interested in getting the most out of life while not spending too much on their hotel room. Tempo by Hilton is the latest mid-priced brand from the company, which now has 18 in its portfolio, including luxury-minded Waldorf Astoria and LXR Hotels & Resorts, the middle-of-the-road Doubletree by Hilton, and limited service hotels under the Motto by Hilton flag.
Tempo represents “something that customers want and that nobody’s really given them in the way they want it,” said Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta, at a launch event for the brand in New York City on Thursday. “Tempo by Hilton is giving customers what they’re yearning for, which is very elevated experience from product, service, food and beverage points of view—but at a very affordable price.”
The new Tempo brand is aimed squarely at ambitious millennials, with a focus on what Hilton calls “reinvigorating and relaxing” rooms, plus a close eye on food and beverage and a deeply integrated sustainability program. They’ve partnered with Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global to provide “curated assortments of morning and bedtime rituals” for guests. Chef Elizabeth Blau’s company, Blau + Associates, has developed healthy, of-the-moment culinary options, including a complimentary coffee and tea bar at every hotel. (They’ve also made non-alcoholic cocktails a prominent part of the bar menu.)
“These ‘modern achievers’ have patterns that they use at home, and when they travel those patterns get disrupted. So how can we minimize that?” said Phil Cordell, SVP and global head of new brand development at Hilton. “The actual sleep experience, the bed, the way the headboard is constructed, the access to light, the programming from Thrive Global—audio and video content to help you wind down and wake up the next morning. The whole idea is how our product helps minimize the disruption of travel.”
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Model guest rooms were designed by Nelson Worldwide, and they demonstrate a stripped-down sensibility, with simple furnishings and zillions of power plugs. Cocoon-like beds are made extra cozy with wrap-around headboards. Bathrooms are bright, with lots of countertop space and walk-in showers. (You can even pair your phone with the vanity mirror to play Spotify or other tunes on the built-in speaker.) Outside the rooms, Hilton says every property will come with flexible meeting areas and communal workspaces, too.
On the sustainability front, all Tempo properties will have “food waste programs, responsible seafood sourcing, hydration stations throughout ... and full-size bath amenity dispensers to reduce disposable plastics,” according to Hilton.
While no Tempo by Hilton properties are yet open, “there are more than 30 individual commitments to date with properties confirmed in several prime markets across the U.S., including New York, Maui, Boston, Los Angeles, Lexington, Nashville, San Diego, Charlotte, Washington D.C., Houston, [and] Atlanta,” according to the company.
“I think this will be one of our larger brands in the U.S. — and ultimately globally,” Nassetta said. “We think in the U.S. alone we could have 500 Tempos over a longer period of time. This is a ‘mega brand’ for us.”
And the launch of the brand comes as part of a significant period of growth for Hilton, which has also recently created the Motto, Signia, and Tru brands. The company now has “nearly 6,000” properties in 117 countries, which makes it one of the largest hotel operators on the planet. With the launch of millennial-minded Tempo, it seems, they’re hoping to stay that way.
