A Missouri-based developer is planning an extended-stay hotel near Denver International Airport with a specific target customer: student pilots.

KJ Hotel Properties submitted plans to the city of Denver for a four-story Candlewood Suites hotel at 18111 E. 63rd Ave., just off Peña Boulevard, according to public records first reported by the Denver Business Journal.

The midscale hotel chain from IHG Hotels & Resorts typically offers apartment-style units with kitchens and longer-stay amenities. This particular project will be geared toward pilot trainees, project workers and business travelers, according to a letter filed with the city by Utah-based architecture firm Richardson Design Partnership.

The March 28 letter says the hotel will have either 121 or 122 rooms. The developer bought the 2.1-acre parcel in December 2023 for $1.5M.

The Denver metro has become a magnet for aviation- and transportation-related development, including massive facilities from Southwest Airlines and Amazon.

United Airlines is building a 113-acre corporate campus nearby, the DBJ reported. Metropolitan State University of Denver, known for its workforce training programs through corporate partnerships in aerospace and advanced manufacturing, is part of United’s Aviate training initiative.

The hotel's design plans show a focus on natural tones, with warm wood and neutral grays meant to blend into the prairie surroundings, according to Richardson Design. The brick facade is intended to match nearby buildings, while shaded sidewalks, a gazebo barbecue area and dark-sky-compliant lighting aim to create a walkable, livable environment near the Peña station Regional Transportation District commuter rail line.

Plans also include a fitness center, shuttle service and travel kiosk. The project is under review as part of Denver’s urban design process.

This Candlewood Suites would be one of several in Colorado, including Denver-area locations in Thornton and Brighton.

The brand is part of a growing trend: Major hotel brand operators like IHG, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International are expanding their extended-stay footprints, with recent moves to integrate apartment-style offerings into their U.S. portfolios.

Wyndham last year announced the launch of five Wyndham Residences through a partnership with corporate housing giant Reside. Marriott signed a deal last year to bring 9,000 units into its Bonvoy brand through a licensing agreement with struggling short-term rental operator Sonder Holdings.