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MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT
Less than a year since the brand was announced, Hilton opened its first Spark hotel
Almost exactly nine months after the brand was first announced, Hilton celebrated the grand opening of the first property under its "premium economy" Spark by Hilton flag in October. The 120-guestroom Spark by Hilton Mystic (Conn.) Groton, developed by Distinctive Hospitality Group, is a conversion of a former Days Inn-and an example of how the conversion-only brand is likely to gain ground in the sector.
The project began to take shape after Hilton first announced the new brand in January, said Lou Carrier, president, Distinctive Hospitality Group, which also owns the nearby 183-room full-service Hilton Mystic and has been in the area for years. While Carrier and his team had faith in Mystic's strength as a hospitality market, they recognized that the economy segment was "very poorly represented," creating an opportunity for the right project. The former hotel had come on the market several times, Carrier added, but the DHG team did not want to acquire the asset without the right brand to...