WhyHotel Helps Couples Book Curated Living Spaces to Celebrate Relationships

The Short Version: Couples traveling to reconnect or celebrate their relationships often choose between two options: hotels or home shares. But home shares don’t offer responsive guest services, and hotels often lack the space to spread out. WhyHotel has locations in Miami and the Washington, D.C. metro area that provide the best of both worlds. Spacious apartments in luxury hotels give guests a home-like experience, while the on-site staff offers high-quality service. The lodgings are located in walkable areas that encourage couples to explore cities on foot.

Many couples celebrate their relationship milestones with vacations to major cities in the U.S.

Some choose to rent entire homes or apartments to ensure they have more room to spread out and cook for themselves. But those home shares lack hotel-style amenities, including a high-quality service that can recommend local restaurants or attractions.

On the other hand, hotels can start to feel cramped on extended vacations.

“Travelers like the home share because of the space, but they’re inconsistent. They like hotels because it’s consistent and you have the staff, but you don’t have room,” said Jason Kamen, the VP of Operations at WhyHotel.

WhyHotel gives guests the space of a home share with the service of a hotel.

WhyHotel offers an ideal lodging option that combines the space and amenities of a home share with the services of a hotel. The company currently has three locations in the U.S. and plans to open more.

Jason said the business was a natural extension of the team’s passion and knowledge in the real estate and hospitality industries. The WhyHotel concept successfully combines both areas of expertise.

“We wanted to create a better place for people to stay and base their lives around what’s there. We’ve been in the real estate and hospitality industries throughout our careers and know that these industries are rarely about the people,” he said.

Jason and his wife often stay at a WhyHotel with their kids when they travel. In the past, they used to share a small hotel room with their children and feel cramped. Now, they book two-bedroom suites so the kids can have their space while Jason and his wife have a living room to themselves where they can enjoy a glass of wine.

The hotels also appeal to many couples traveling alone when celebrating relationship milestones.

“If you’re without kids, you have the comforts of home. The staff will offer recommendations for romantic restaurants and even make your reservations. We might even leave you a bottle of wine in your room,” Jason said.

The WhyHotel concept works so well because it focuses on guests and their needs. One way they accomplish that is through a knowledgeable, friendly staff, all of whom work on-site. When Jason hires team members, he finds people who can interact well with guests.

“When I meet someone, I don’t want to be impressed. I want to be moved. You can teach people operations, numbers, and budgets, but you can’t teach them to smile genuinely. You get a boost out of helping someone, or you don’t,” Jason told us.

WhyHotel aims to create better working conditions for its staff members, and that commitment translates to better guest experiences.

“We focus on the experience rather than the bottom line,” Jason said.

WhyHotel has locations in Miami and Washington, D.C., and it plans to expand its presence.

One guest reflected that in an online review of the WhyHotel in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

“The apartment hotel was an excellent second home — quality apartments and provisions, convenient shopping and a couple of takeaway places open and a wonderful Paris Baguette bakery a block away … The staff at WhyHotel were super friendly, super attentive, and flexible given several changes to my stay due to continued pandemic shut down.”

Another guest enjoyed her stay at the Washington D.C. location:

“We really loved that we got a full apartment for the night at the price of a hotel room. The unit was very comfortable with lots of space, seating, and good lighting. It was nice to not feel cramped like we would have in a single room. The unit also had a full kitchen that included pots, pans, plates, and silverware.”

Couples celebrating relationship milestones can stay in a WhyHotel room in a luxury apartment building. Each location is in a bustling part of the city, often close to a theater or near dining and grocery stores. The WhyHotel team searches for apartment buildings in walkable areas or neighborhoods where they can open new properties.

Many couples who book a WhyHotel for romantic getaways choose a studio or a one-bedroom option. WhyHotel also offers two- and three-bedroom suites for trips with kids or extended family.

“One thing that caters to everyone is how we approach the experience — it’s whatever you need. You have the space. You can cook, or there’s a restaurant next door. You have bedrooms and a living room. The product lends itself to everyone, and the staff makes it customizable,” Jason told us.

WhyHotel provides guests with all the amenities of home, including full kitchens.

Though each location is different, the basic concept of the hotel stays the same: simplifying lodging and travel. Suite amenities include kitchens, washer/dryers, and fitness centers. Rooms also have smart TVs with Apple TV, and most suites include patios or rooftops for enjoying views of the city.

The amenities help couples continue their normal routines — including sleeping, eating, and exercising regularly — while exploring a new place.

WhyHotel currently has three hotels in Miami, Washington D.C., and Tysons Corner, Virginia, respectively. Jason said that guests at the Miami location are typically vacation travelers, while guests at its other locations often book for business travel.

“Location changes our demographic, so we have something for everyone,” Jason said.

The WhyHotel team has kept a people-first premise in mind from the beginning. That is why couples choose WhyHotel to prioritize comfort and focus on their relationship.

The team also enjoys providing an upscale atmosphere. For instance, its Miami location offers in-room technology and a wine refrigerator. The rooms include coffee from a Miami roaster and pieces from local artists hanging on the walls.

That attention to detail impresses many guests who have stayed at the hotel’s permanent and pop-up locations. Jason shared the story of a group who stayed at WhyHotel’s Seattle pop-up for a year while they worked on a project. Team members even had the chance to bring their families with them.

Recently, the same company contacted Jason wanting to book again, this time requesting 30 rooms for six months. Unfortunately, the Seattle WhyHotel pop-up ended its term, but it made an impression on the company. That company is trying to convince Jason to open another pop-up WhyHotel in downtown Seattle.

“They told us they want to stay with WhyHotel because of the space, comfort, and service. I’m talking to that developer about a temporary location because this group wants to stay with us, and they can commit to several months. We want to be able to do that for them. It’s hard to move on after staying with us,” Jason said.