aka
AKA is a privately held, family-owned luxury hospitality brand operating 14 hotel and serviced-residence properties across seven US cities and London under Korman Communities. It serves extended-stay business and leisure travelers, corporate housing clients, and event-driven guests with nightly, weekly, monthly, and annual-lease accommodations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1920
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What aka does
AKA is a privately held, family-owned luxury hospitality brand operated by Korman Communities, the real estate vehicle of the Korman family whose residential property business traces back five generations to approximately 1920. The company operates 14 properties across New York City (Hotel AKA Nomad, AKA Central Park, AKA Times Square, AKA Sutton Place), Boston (Hotel AKA Back Bay, Hotel AKA Boston Common), Philadelphia (AKA Rittenhouse Square, AKA University City), Washington D.C. (AKA White House), West Palm Beach (Hotel AKA West Palm), Los Angeles (AKA Beverly Hills, AKA West Hollywood), and London (AKA Marylebone), with Miami appearing as an additional destination in development. The portfolio is split between traditional boutique hotel properties offering daily stays and AKA Hotel Residences — serviced apartments with separate living and sleeping areas, chef-inspired kitchens, and extended-stay pricing — supplemented by 6/9/12-month lease options at select locations.
The underlying technology stack is operationally conventional: a direct booking engine on stayaka.com with a property management system, individual Nest smart thermostats in each suite, Technogym fitness equipment (designed by Antonio Citterio), and signature design elements such as custom Salvatori Stone bathrooms. There is no public-facing API, mobile app, or documented AI/ML capability. The brand layer, however, is differentiated: an Access AKA annual membership club, the LIVE IT! curated local experiences program, a.cinema private screening rooms with weekly film programming curated by critic Max Markowitz, and co-located lifestyle partnerships with KITH (retail and café at the base of AKA West Hollywood), Third Space Health Club (Marylebone), Rumble Boxing (West Hollywood), and The Lab massage therapy (University City).
Commercially, AKA runs a primarily direct-to-consumer model through stayaka.com with email newsletter capture, Instagram and Facebook organic social, third-party OTA distribution, and a dedicated corporate and group travel sales function. Revenue mixes nightly, weekly, and monthly accommodation stays, annual lease rentals at select properties, and membership fees. Customer segments span extended-stay leisure and business travelers, corporate housing and relocation guests, medical tourism patients (notably near London hospitals), event-driven travelers (FIFA 2026, awards, fashion weeks), and themed commemorative travelers (America 250). The company is led by CEO Larry Korman and employs 501-1,000 people.
aka firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- aka
- Legal name
- Korman Communities
- Website
- https://stayaka.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1920
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- AKA is a privately held, family-owned luxury hospitality brand operating 14 hotel and serviced-residence properties across seven US cities and London under Korman Communities. It serves extended-stay business and leisure travelers, corporate housing clients, and event-driven guests with nightly, weekly, monthly, and annual-lease accommodations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
aka industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Extended-Stay Hotels & Serviced Residences
- NAICS
- Other Traveler Accommodation (72119), Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Traveler Accommodation (7211)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Extended-Stay Brand Residences (Managed Residences) (THAGAEAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury Serviced Residences (THAGAEAJ), Executive Apartments (Corporate Housing) (THAGAEAD)
Keywords
Where aka is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
aka business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Hotel and Hotel Residence Accommodations: Revenue from daily, weekly, and monthly stays at AKA properties across 14 locations in the US and London. Properties offer luxury hotel rooms for short-term stays and spacious serviced residences for extended stays of a week, month, or longer. Rates are discounted for longer stays.
- Annual Lease Rentals: Unfurnished and furnished luxury apartments available for 6, 9, or 12-month extended stays at select locations (Los Angeles, Philadelphia). Provides residential rental income with hotel-style amenities.
- Access AKA Membership: Annual membership club offering exclusive benefits including special rates, early check-in, late checkout, private amenity access, guestroom upgrades, welcome amenities, and invitations to private events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Standard hotel residences with weekly/monthly discounts |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Stay 15, Save 15% extended stay promotion |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | 7th Night on Us at AKA University City |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Parking at AKA West Hollywood |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Pet fee at AKA Marylebone |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Roll-away bed rental |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
aka product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AKA operates luxury hotel residences and boutique hotels offering both short-term (daily) and extended-stay (weekly, monthly, and annual lease) accommodations across 14 properties in iconic US cities and London. Its residences combine the space and kitchens of fully appointed luxury condominiums with hotel-level services such as housekeeping, concierge, valet, and 24-hour front desk, complemented by wellness, business, and lifestyle amenities including Technogym fitness centers, a.cinema private screening rooms, and the LIVE IT! local experiences program.
Product overview
AKA is a hospitality company offering two distinct lodging models: Hotel AKA properties (traditional boutique hotels for daily stays) and AKA Hotel Residences (extended-stay serviced apartments for weekly/monthly stays). The portfolio spans 13+ properties across New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington D.C., West Palm Beach, Los Angeles, and London. Properties include AKA Central Park, AKA Times Square, AKA Sutton Place, AKA Nomad, AKA Rittenhouse Square, AKA University City, AKA White House, AKA Back Bay, AKA Boston Common, Hotel AKA West Palm, AKA Beverly Hills, AKA West Hollywood, and AKA Marylebone. Supporting services include Access AKA membership club, the LIVE IT! lifestyle program, a.cinema private film experiences, Technogym fitness centers, wellness services, business amenities, and chef/dining services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hotel AKA Properties (Boutique Hotels) AKA's traditional boutique hotel properties offering daily and short-term luxury stays in Boston, New York, West Palm Beach, and other urban markets, featuring on-site dining, refined amenities, and attentive hotel service.
- AKA Hotel Residences (Extended-Stay Serviced Residences) Extended-stay serviced residences designed for weekly and monthly stays across 14 properties, featuring separate living and sleeping areas, chef-inspired kitchens with high-end appliances, and access to on-site fitness, lounge, cafe, and cinema amenities.
- Annual Lease Rentals (Furnished & Unfurnished Apartments) 6, 9, or 12-month furnished and unfurnished luxury apartment rentals at select AKA locations (Los Angeles, Philadelphia), offering residential living with hotel-style amenities and services.
- Access AKA Membership Club Annual membership club offering exclusive benefits including special rates, early check-in, late check-out, private amenity access, guestroom upgrades, welcome amenities, and invitations to private events for frequent AKA guests.
- LIVE IT! Experiences Program Curated lifestyle program offering AKA guests opportunities to develop new skills and experience their neighborhoods through art lessons, cooking classes, health and wellness sessions, and private local tours.
- a.cinema Private Screening Rooms Private on-site theater experience with oversized leather reclining seats, surround sound, and deluxe screens, featuring weekly film screenings curated by film critic Max Markowitz at multiple AKA properties.
- Corporate & Group Travel Services Dedicated sales service for corporate retreats, business travel, and group bookings, offering spacious suites with full kitchens, exclusive group rates, and proximity to major entertainment and corporate districts.
Companies that use aka
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
aka technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
aka partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Third Space Health ClubcoreComplimentary access to Third Space Health Club on Bulstrode Place for AKA Marylebone residents, providing high-end fitness facilities including comprehensive class schedules, personal training, and swimming pool. Located just minutes from the property.
- Max Markowitz / moviecritic.todaycorePartnership with Boston-based film critic Max Markowitz to curate weekly film screenings at AKA's a.cinema private screening rooms across multiple properties including AKA Central Park, AKA Sutton Place, AKA Rittenhouse Square, AKA University City, AKA White House, AKA Beverly Hills, AKA West Hollywood, and Hotel AKA Alexandria.
- Tribeca Film FestivalminorLongstanding partnership with Tribeca Film Festival for entertainment industry travelers seeking accommodations during film production and festival events.
- BAFTA Los AngelesminorPartnership with BAFTA Los Angeles supporting entertainment industry professionals attending awards and events in Los Angeles.
- Greater Philadelphia Film OfficeminorPartnership with Greater Philadelphia Film Office and Philadelphia Film Society supporting film production travelers at Philadelphia AKA properties.
- The Lab (Philadelphia)minorPartnership with The Lab for curated massage therapy services at AKA University City, offering personalized massage sessions for resident wellness.
- TechnogymcoreHigh-end Technogym fitness equipment featuring Antonio Citterio-designed machinery including elliptical cross-trainers, treadmills, cycles, weight training equipment, Kinesis machines, and stretching areas. Present at multiple AKA properties.
- KITHcoreKITH flagship store with KITH Café located at the base of AKA West Hollywood, combining elevated retail and lifestyle experiences. AKA West Hollywood is co-located at the same address (8500 West Sunset Boulevard).
- Rumble BoxingminorBoxing-inspired fitness hotspot located in the retail plaza adjacent to AKA West Hollywood, offering residents access to boutique fitness experiences steps from their residence.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
aka competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Citadines Apart'hotel: Citadines is a global aparthotel brand operating serviced apartments across Europe and Asia, combining hotel services with apartment-style living. It targets the same flexible-stay business and leisure segments as AKA, though at mid-scale rather than AKA's luxury positioning.
- Marriott Residence Inn: Residence Inn is Marriott's flagship extended-stay hotel brand, targeting the same weekly/monthly corporate and relocation demand as AKA. As a scaled chain, it offers broader geographic coverage and loyalty program integration; AKA competes on premium finishes and urban landmark locations rather than scale.
- Hyatt House: Hyatt House is Hyatt's extended-stay brand offering apartment-style suites with kitchens, mirroring AKA's residential-with-services concept. Both serve business travelers on long assignments, though Hyatt House operates at broader scale and lower price points than AKA's luxury positioning.
- The Ascott Limited: Ascott is one of the largest international serviced residence operators, offering apartment-style accommodations with hotel services globally. It competes with AKA's London property directly and provides a comparable extended-stay residence product, though at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
Direct peers
- Adagio Aparthotels: Adagio operates aparthotels combining apartment space with hotel services across European cities, with a similar business model and target customer (extended-stay business travelers and relocators) as AKA. Its Paris presence makes it a relevant European comparison for AKA Marylebone.
- Kasa Living: Kasa operates professionally managed apartment-style accommodations with hotel-like amenities across US cities, competing head-to-head with AKA in the extended-stay and corporate relocation segments. Both combine residential space with hospitality service layers in urban markets.
- Quest Apartment Hotels: Quest operates a network of serviced apartment properties targeting corporate and leisure extended-stay travelers, with apartments featuring kitchens and living areas. The business model closely mirrors AKA's weekly/monthly stays, though Quest is concentrated in Australia and New Zealand.
- Sonder: Sonder operates tech-enabled serviced apartments and boutique short-stay residences in major urban markets — a directly comparable business model to AKA's blend of hotel-style service with apartment-scale units in tier-1 cities. Both target extended-stay corporate and leisure travelers with apartment layouts and hotel amenities.
- Stay Alfred: Stay Alfred provides upscale apartment-style accommodations in urban US markets with kitchens, living space, and hotel-style amenities — a directly comparable extended-stay product to AKA. Both serve corporate and leisure travelers seeking residential alternatives to traditional hotels.
- Lanson Place: Lanson Place operates luxury serviced residences in gateway Asian cities (Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai) with a boutique, design-forward positioning similar to AKA's luxury residences. Both compete in the upscale extended-stay segment with residential layouts and hotel services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
aka social profiles
Digital presenceaka financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
aka leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
aka funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
aka M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about aka
What does aka do?
AKA operates luxury hotel residences and boutique hotels offering both short-term (daily) and extended-stay (weekly, monthly, and annual lease) accommodations across 14 properties in iconic US cities and London. Its residences combine the space and kitchens of fully appointed luxury condominiums with hotel-level services such as housekeeping, concierge, valet, and 24-hour front desk, complemented by wellness, business, and lifestyle amenities including Technogym fitness centers, a.cinema private screening rooms, and the LIVE IT! local experiences program.
Is aka a public or private company?
aka is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was aka founded?
aka was founded in 1920. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is aka based?
aka is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does aka make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hotel and Hotel Residence Accommodations are the primary driver. The others are annual Lease Rentals and access AKA Membership.
Who are aka's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Citadines Apart'hotel, Marriott Residence Inn, Hyatt House and The Ascott Limited. Direct peers are Adagio Aparthotels, Kasa Living, Quest Apartment Hotels, Sonder, Stay Alfred and Lanson Place.
Does aka have an API?
No public API is recorded for aka.
What industry is aka in?
aka's product category is Luxury Extended-Stay Hotels & Serviced Residences. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAGAEAM, Extended-Stay Brand Residences (Managed Residences), with a secondary code of THAGAEAJ, Luxury Serviced Residences. Its NAICS code is 72119 and its SIC code is 7000.