It’s one small step for space tourism, but one giant leap for Hilton.
On Tuesday, the hotel giant announced a partnership with Voyager Space, which would hire the hospitality company to design crew quarters aboard the Starlab commercial space station. In addition to building astronaut suites, Hilton will also redesign the station’s common areas to make longer stays in orbit more comfortable — or at least to make them feel closer to life here on Earth.
In 2021, Voyager Space received $160 million in NASA funding from its parent company, NanoRacks, to start Starlab. After its completion, which could be as early as 2027, the station will be able to accommodate up to four astronauts at the same time. In addition, there will also be a state-of-the-art laboratory known as the George Washington Carver Science Park.
“More than just a destination, Starlab will be an experience infinitely more unique and artistic through the innovation, expertise and global reach of the Hilton team,” said Dylan Taylor, chairman and CEO of Voyager Space, in a press release. “Voyager and Hilton have an intense focus on creating innovative solutions for the future of humankind, and this partnership opens new doors to what is possible for comfort-oriented space exploration and habitation.”
Photo courtesy of Hilton
Although this is Hilton’s first project of its kind, the hospitality brand has previously taken its hospitality efforts to new heights. In an attempt to make long-term space travel more enjoyable, the company participated in a 2020 experiment in which astronauts used the first-ever zero-gravity oven to bake their famous DoubleTree chocolate chip cookies. Although successful, the cooking time took about two hours.
“For decades, discoveries in space have positively impacted life on Earth, and now Hilton has the opportunity to leverage this unique environment to enhance guest experiences wherever people travel,” said Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton , in the statement . “This landmark collaboration underscores our deep commitment to spreading the light and warmth of hospitality and providing a friendly, dependable stay—whether on Earth or in space.”
