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From Holiday Inns to Golden Years: How Hotels Are Becoming the New Retirement Homes


With the travel industry facing an uncertain future and senior housing demand rising, a creative solution is emerging: converting Holiday Inns and other hotels into vibrant retirement homes. These underutilized hotels, with their built-in amenities, convenient layouts, and prime locations, offer a unique opportunity to reimagine senior living.


"Hotels like Holiday Inns are perfect for senior housing conversions," says Bob Waun, co-founder of DIRT Realty. "They’re already designed with accessibility in mind, have large common areas, and are often located near key services and transportation. We’ve studied this trend, and the potential is enormous for creating engaging, walkable communities where seniors can thrive."


Why Convert Hotels to Senior Housing?

The logic behind this trend is simple: Holiday Inns, once buzzing with travelers, now have a lot of empty rooms. Meanwhile, the need for affordable, well-designed senior housing is growing fast. Converting hotels to retirement homes is a practical way to repurpose buildings that already have the infrastructure in place for community living.


Here’s why it works:


Built-In Amenities: Hotels already come with features that make them attractive for senior living—dining facilities, recreational areas, and easily accessible rooms with elevators and ramps. These features can be repurposed into activity centers, wellness spaces, and communal dining areas.

Prime Locations: Many hotels are located near transportation hubs, hospitals, and shopping centers, making them ideal for senior residents who want to stay connected to the community. These locations make it easy to create walkable, engaging environments.

Faster Conversion: Converting a hotel into a retirement home is often quicker and less expensive than building a new senior housing facility from scratch. This is particularly important in cities where housing demand outpaces the speed of new construction.

The Holiday Inn Model: An Ideal Fit for Seniors

Holiday Inns, in particular, have layouts that lend themselves well to senior living. The wide hallways, ground-floor common areas, and flexible room configurations make these spaces ideal for aging in place. And with many Holiday Inns located near major highways or city centers, they provide the convenience that seniors and their families are looking for.


"We’ve looked closely at converting hotel chains like Holiday Inn into senior living spaces, and they tick so many boxes," Waun explains. "The rooms can be turned into comfortable living quarters, the lobbies can become community hubs, and with a little renovation, you can have everything seniors need to live well in one place."


Successful Examples of Hotel-to-Senior Living Conversions

This trend is already happening across the U.S., where hotels are being transformed into retirement communities. Here are a few success stories:


1. The Bell Tower Residence, Merrill, Wisconsin

Once a Holiday Inn, The Bell Tower Residence has been transformed into a senior living community, offering assisted living and independent living options. The former hotel’s large guest rooms have been repurposed into spacious apartments, and its common areas have been turned into dining spaces, fitness centers, and even art studios for residents. Learn more about this project on the Bell Tower Residence website.


2. Pacifica Senior Living, Vacaville, California

This former hotel in Vacaville was converted into a Pacifica Senior Living community, providing memory care and assisted living. The hotel’s existing layout, with rooms surrounding a central courtyard, was ideal for creating a secure, walkable space for seniors. The transformation included adding garden spaces and walking paths, offering residents both comfort and independence. Learn more at Pacifica Senior Living.


3. Oakwood Hotel Transformation, New York

In New York, a former Oakwood hotel is being converted into senior living apartments in a prime Manhattan location. With renovations to make the building more senior-friendly and a focus on healthcare access and community engagement, this conversion highlights how hotels in major cities can become much-needed housing solutions for seniors.


Why This is a Win for Senior Living

As the demand for senior housing grows, the idea of converting hotels like Holiday Inns into retirement communities solves multiple problems at once. It repurposes existing infrastructure, often at a lower cost than new construction, and provides seniors with amenities, walkable communities, and convenience.


"This is more than just a smart real estate move—it’s a way to give seniors beautiful, functional living spaces without starting from scratch," says Waun. "At DIRT Realty, we’ve studied these conversions extensively, and we know they work. We’re excited to see this trend continue to grow."


The Future of Hotel-to-Senior Conversions

As more developers recognize the potential in repurposing hotels, we can expect to see more Holiday Inns, resorts, and even boutique hotels turned into vibrant senior communities. With a bit of creativity and investment, these former vacation spots can become permanent homes for seniors, offering a sense of community, security, and accessibility.


"For seniors, this could mean living in a place that feels more like a retreat than a traditional retirement home," Waun concludes. "The opportunity to convert hotels into retirement housing is a win-win for everyone involved—especially the seniors who get to enjoy their golden years in a beautiful, well-designed environment."


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