Hilton Ditching the Hotel Business In Favor Of A New Venture?
Hilton is collaborating with Voyager Space Holding and Lockheed Martin to design the interior of a new space station called Starlab.
Hotelier giant Hilton is expanding their portfolio into unexpected territory. The Texas-born company has released that it will expand its portfolio by designing the interior of the new space station. It will design astronaut facilities for the private section of the space station, Starlab.
First Time Collaboration
At the 2022 International Astronautical Congress, the Voyager Space Holding Chairman and CEO Dylan Taylor said he is excited by the unique and original perspective that Hilton will bring to the Starlab project as they design hotels, not space stations. He was quoted “It’s almost like looking at it with fresh eyes and saying: ‘How do we reimagine this experience.’”
This business collaboration is the first of its kind as the new space station is being built by private companies, giving the opening for global brands like Hilton to be part of it. Not only will Hilton have the opportunity to design the hospitality suits and astronauts’ sleeping quarters, but the hotel giant will also collaborate with Voyager Space Holding to determine the space station marketing opportunities. Even up in space, there is a marketing opportunity.
Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta released a statement declaring, “For decades, discoveries in space have been positively impacting life on Earth, and now Hilton will have an opportunity to use this unique environment to improve the guest experience wherever people travel.” This space station is currently under development by Voyager Space Holding and Lockheed Martin.
Construction in Space
Starlab is one of four space stations being built by American companies in collaboration with NASA contracts. Under NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations program, Nanoracks, Voyager Space holding’s operating company, was awarded the most extensive individual contract. The contract is valued at $160 million to help design and build Starlab. This help is due to NASA retiring the International Space Station (ISS) in 2030.
Voyager, along with Nanoracks, is developing Starlab in partnership with Lockheed Martin and the companies aim to have the space station’s first orbit as early as 2027. Starlab will be built as flexibly as possible, with the design showing that it will have three modules attached. Voyager Space holdings expect the first module of Starlab to start construction in the third quarter of 2023.
Future Plans for Starlab
Voyager Space Holdings and their collaborator’s long-term goal is to expand to multiple Starlabs built for different market needs. They see substantial market opportunities in science, research services, and human spaceflight in Starlab and any future space stations. The company currently has nine space infrastructures and a technology business in its portfolio.
Hilton’s move into the design of the new space station is a bold move from the global brand. As most big companies are now looking to the sky for their next big project, Hilton’s move was excellent to be on the ground of such a significant moment in history and business. One would wonder, how long will it be before we can holiday in a Hilton in space?
