Marriott Is Turning A Shuttered Days Inn Migrant Shelter Into A Budget Hotel — When Growth Matters More Than Standards

From migrant shelter to Marriott – the hotel brand that was once known for standards and consistency when Bill Marriott served as CEO, the company’s unofficial motto under CEO Tony Capuano is that his tombstone will have “net rooms growth” on it. More rooms at more hotels they can earn fees from is the success metric That means not alienating owners by enforcing guest treatment And it means welcoming a long-shuttered Days Inn, that’s been serving as a migrant shelter, into the fold. The former Days Inn on Route 9 in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts has been unoccupied since March 2025 when it ceased being used as a migrant shelter. It will be converted to a Marriott City Express. The City Express line is among the budget-friendly hotel brands in the Marriott family, offering “functional lodging focused on the basics done well for easy travel experiences,” according to the company’s website. Though it’s difficult to determine, plans indicate that the hotel will have approximately 72 rooms, with one- to two-bedroom units. There will be two floors, a lobby area, fitness room, and breakfast buffet. Permits indicate that, toward the start of the project, the hope was to have the hotel open by January 2027. I expect this place should get a full gutting. It had a 1.5 star average review on Yelp before being taken out of commission as a hotel and used as a shelter. That doesn’t appear to be the case for what’s happening, however. Read Jasmine D.‘s review of Days Inn by Wyndham Shrewsbury Worcester on Yelp Read Gina K.‘s review of Days Inn by Wyndham Shrewsbury Worcester on Yelp If permits expect an opening in early 2027, work seems unlikely to be extensive though apparently includes “replacing and removing a number of windows, installing a new elevator, remodeling the lobby and first-floor public spaces, and replacing almost all of the lighting fixtures, furniture items, and pieces of decor.” In some sense, City Express is meant to be like a Fairfield Inn, but streamlined for lower costs and quick conversions. Every conversion gets the same minimalist exterior formula: two shades of grey paint, an 18-inch yellow band, and a navy block framing the new sign. The underlying structure stays untouched, so it’s often the same hotel you drove past before, just repainted and re-signed. Bars aren’t permitted to distinguish these properties from brands like Courtyard and Four Points (again, don’t want to anger any owners) and suites with kitchens are limited to avoid running afoul of Towneplace Suites owners. Fitness rooms only have to be 350 square feet and offer three cardio machines and free weights. Hydration stations are optional but “highly recommended.” Bars are forbidden. Business centers are discouraged. Guest rooms keep a neutral palette of white, grey, and oak, with yellow or orange accents for “optimism.” Since City Express awards only Marriott Bonvoy elite night credit per two nights stayed, guests don’t even count as three-fifths of a member. Some might even call it apartheid. Topics on this page