Pop-Up Hotel Slated for Belltown

An alternative lodging service that operates pop-up hotels in new, luxury apartment buildings plans to open in Seattles Belltown neighborhood.

WhyHotel Inc. will operate a pop-up hotel from the Avalon Belltown Towers, 210 Wall St., for eight to 12 months, starting in September. The Washington, D.C.-based company recently opened a San Francisco office, but the Seattle partnership is its first hotel on the West Coast.

WhyHotel, founded in 2017, will control 50 units in the 24-story, 275-unit residential high-rise. WhyHotel didnt say what its average room rates would be, but Avalons monthly rental rates run from $2,165 for a studio apartment to $7,700 for a three-bedroom unit, according to its website.

AvalonBay Vice President of Development Derek Bottles says the partnership is a leasing strategy.

Avalon Belltown Towers is positioned to attract both long-term residents as well as WhyHotel guests, he says.

According to online industry publication TopHotelNews, pop-up hotels are a growing trend in the hospitality industry, though not a new one. Some companies have been setting up these temporary accommodations for several years, according to the publication.

WhyHotel also operates pop-ups in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Virginia and Houston.