Residence Inn by Marriott

The chain traces its roots back to in 1975, when Wichita, Kansas developer Jack DeBoer found himself with apartment properties that were facing unusually high vacancy rates. He repurposed one of the apartment buildings, converting the residential units to monthly rentals, and named it The Residence.^[2]

In 1981, DeBoer and developer Robert L. Brock (then the largest franchisee of Holiday Inn), formed a joint venture, launching a chain called The Residence Inn. The hotels focused on the "extended-stay" market, a term they invented.^[3] The hotels were aimed at guests staying five nights or more, who would not need conventional daily hotel maid service, which reduced operational costs. Their guests were mostly business travelers on lengthy work assignments, patients of nearby hospitals, and those in need of temporary housing.^[4]

In January 1985, Holiday Corporation, the parent company of Holiday Inn, bought a 50% stake in The Residence Inn chain. In early 1987, DeBoer bought back Holiday's interest in the chain, before selling the entire company to Marriott International on July 7, 1987.^[5] Although DeBoer died in 2021, the original Wichita property is still operated by his company, under the WaterWalk brand.^[6]