Case Study- Seville Plaza Hotel
(Spark by Hilton conversion)

Strategic Urban Location with Transit Connectivity
Located on Main Street with direct frontage to the Ride KC Streetcar line, the hotel is one of only seven (7) properties positioned on the full transit route and one of only a few hotels with a Streetcar stop directly in front of the hotel entrance. This provides direct access to major demand drivers including T-Mobile Center, Power & Light District, Nelson Atkins Museum, Country Club Plaza and UMKC. Future expansion of the streetcar to the Berkley Riverfront and KC Current stadium in October 2025 will only serve to strengthen long-term foot traffic and visibility. Walkability to the Plaza and neighboring establishments further enhance its appeal.

Undersupplied Market with Growing Demand
The recent closures of the 241-room Holiday Inn & Suites, the 102-room Extended Stay America and the announcement of the closure of the 266-room Embassy Suites on September 15th have tightened room supply in the area and created huge demand opportunity for the Hilton Spark. The project is well-positioned to absorb demand from St. Luke’s Hospital, UMKC athletics and year-round business travel. Proximity to Kansas City’s largest employers and entertainment corridors provides a stable base of recurring lodging needs. Investors benefit from a favorable market imbalance of supply versus demand.

Hilton Spark Rebrand with Loyalty Infrastructure
The property is approved for conversion into a Spark by Hilton-a rapidly scaling brand in the premium economy segment. Spark benefits from Hilton’s global platform and captures – 48% of bookings through Hilton Honors, offering instant loyalty-driven occupancy upside. This affiliation brings brand consistency, reservation power, and trust that independent operators can’t replicate.

Proven Local Sponsor with Repeat Success
Local owner/operator Doug Gamble brings a proven track record of successful hotel repositioning across the Kansas City metro. His first project, the Seville Plaza (2003), laid the foundation for three additional turnarounds within one mile of the Hilton Spark: the Holiday Inn at the Plaza, the Q Hotel+ Spa, and the 816 Hotel.

Doug’s deep experience in the market translates into immediate post-renovation momentum, driven by a combination of targeted digital marketing and traditional sales strategies. Over the years, he has built a robust network of demand-generating partners and long-standing relationships that continue to deliver strong results.

World Cup Summer 2026
Kansas City is expected to see 650,000 unique visitors over the roughly five-week span (June-July) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, translating to about 2.1 million visitor-days in the metro area. For hotel owners, this equates to a once-in-a-generation revenue spike: substantial rate increases, nearly full occupancy during match days, and a chance to capitalize on ancillary spend in food, beverage, and venue-driven tourism. In short, the 2026 World Cup should deliver a major upside-high YOY room rates, surging demand, and strong top-line performance.

New Country Club Plaza Ownership
In mid-2024, Dallas-based HP Village Management, led by Ray and Heather Washburne and Stephen and Elisa Summers, acquired Kansas City’s landmark Country Club Plaza. The new ownership group has committed over $100 million toward revitalizing the district, including enhanced security, upgraded lighting, refreshed landscaping, and preservation of the Plaza’s signature Spanish-inspired architecture. Their redevelopment plan emphasizes attracting luxury retailers alongside curated local and chef-driven concepts, with a goal of re-establishing the Plaza as the premier mixed-use destination in the region. Additional improvements will focus on pedestrian-friendly design and public space enhancements to increase foot traffic and tenant appeal.