My Place Hotel offers low-cost extended stays

Since the first My Place Hotel opened in North Dakota in 2012 to meet the needs of a growing population of energy workers, the brand expansion through 21 states has validated the original concept of offering extended-stay rooms at a budget price.

The newest My Place Hotel opened in Kalispell at 755 Treeline Road on May 15. It is the fourth site in Montana and the 47th in 21 states.

“It’s an interesting concept,” Bryce Baker, general manager of the Kalispell My Place, said. “It’s value driven. We don’t have a free breakfast, there’s no pool, hot tub or fitness center. But when you take those out of the equation, our rates are substantially lower. We’re built on an economy platform.”

The 85 rooms in the Kalispell My Place come in two sizes, with either a king bed or two queens, reservable at nightly, weekly or monthly rates. They are similar to studio apartments, with recliners, two-burner stoves and refrigerators and freezers in each room. Guests can cook for themselves, though there is the option to purchase a delivered breakfast.

The hotel offers a full laundry facility, which Baker said is a benefit for people who are staying an extended period. The My Place store sells snacks, drinks and personal items.

Baker expects a varied demographic of guests at My Place.

“Families that come up to Glacier Park for seven days who want to cook their own food, construction workers,” he said. “We can also provide a nice niche for people relocating before they move into a house. And being close to Glacier High School will be really beneficial,”

Though Baker said the hotel chose a slow ramp-up period, they’re already sold out Memorial Day weekend and “the summer is trending very well.”

Baker, who was born in Bozeman, came to Kalispell from Sydney, where he ran a couple of independent hotels and a Best Western.

The Kalispell My Place will employ between 12 and 15 people. Because My Place rooms are cleaned every four days for extended-stay guests, the hotel can operate with a smaller staff than other similar-sized hotels.

For more information, visit www.myplacehotels.com

Business reporter Heidi Gaiser can be reached at hgaiser@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4441.