According to Curbed, buildings designed to share living spaces are being planned for locations in Miami and Austin. The hybrid hotel and condo space, branded as Natiivo and licensed as hotels, would allow owners to buy in and then rent out their space on Airbnb. Amenities would include 24-hour concierges, co-working spaces, spa-inspired fitness centers, and rooftop pool decks. The model for the project is Niido, a 324-unit building in Kissimmee, Fla. that opened last year.
Developer Harvey Hernandez, whose NGD Homesharing company is behind both Niido and Natiivo, says the Niido properties—there’s a second one in Nashville—have been “going great,” and the company has spent the last year upgrading technology and preparing to expand.
A rendering of the Austin Natiivo project. Azeez BakareThe new Natiivo projects in Austin and Miami were chosen in part for being top 10 Airbnb markets in the country, and Hernandez plans to utilize Airbnb guidance on design, like he did with Niido. The tech giant is very involved in these projects through its Powered by Airbnb consultancy, with an eye toward making interiors more amenable to travelers. It will use common spaces to host Airbnb Experiences, the company’s tour and activities product, in hopes of adding additional selling points to travelers.
There was a tremendous demand for booking rooms in Niido, Hernandez says, leading him to look to create a project that allowed for even more bookings while avoiding municipal restrictions on Airbnb activity. He initially planned to open 14 Niido projects across the country, but has now scaled back with plans to focus on Natiivo.
