A brand-new dual-branded AC Hotel and Residence Inn by Marriott has opened at 8710 Penrose Lane in Lenexa City Center, bringing 261 rooms and suites to a corridor that has been decades in the making. The property combines 132 contemporary AC Hotel rooms with 129 apartment-style Residence Inn suites built for longer stays, giving the growing Kansas City suburb a new hospitality option.
The opening caps roughly two years of construction after the project broke ground in 2024, according to the Kansas City Star. The hotel had originally been scheduled to open in June 2026, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the timeline shifted and it opened instead in September, after the tournament. Midas Hospitality celebrated the opening of the dual-branded property, per the same report.
Two Brands, One Roof
The AC Hotel side leans into upscale, design-forward stays, with onsite dining and meeting space built in for business travelers and events. The Residence Inn side takes the opposite approach, offering fully equipped kitchens and complimentary breakfast aimed at guests settling in for extended visits, whether for work, relocation or family travel.
J.T. Norville said the two brands provide distinct experiences for different types of travelers while adding energy to City Center, the Star reported. Norville also said Lenexa City Center has become a true destination, and that the hotel was developed specifically to complement it. Julie Sayers, for her part, said the opening signals that Lenexa is more than a suburb — it is a destination in its own right, according to the outlet's report.
Decades In The Making
The hotel is the latest piece of a much longer effort. Lenexa has pursued a decades-long push to build out its downtown corridor along 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard, weaving together restaurants, retail, apartments and businesses into what city leaders hope reads as an actual downtown rather than scattered suburban development.
That corridor still has room to grow: Lenexa City Center has a little over 4,000 square feet of retail or restaurant space currently available, per the Star's reporting. Existing tenants in the district include Power Life Yoga, Hammer & Nails and Clementine's Creamery, giving the area a mix of wellness, self-care and dessert options for both hotel guests and locals.
How It Compares Elsewhere
Some hotel properties combine two brands under one roof. IHG Hotels & Resorts recently unveiled a dual-branded EVEN Hotel and Staybridge Suites near Universal Orlando Resort, while a downtown Indianapolis tower already houses a combined Hyatt Place and Hyatt House, according to Cvent.
