“Pop-up hotel” company Placemakr has picked downtown Reno as its first Nevada location while it embarks on a national expansion.
A self-described “pop-up hotel” company has chosen Reno as its first location in Nevada as it embarks on a nationwide expansion of its services.
Washington, D.C.-based Placemakr is offering 66 apartment-style suites in downtown Reno for booking, according to the company.
Although Las Vegas typically gets most of the attention in Nevada, Placemakr noted that Reno is no slouch either.
“Reno punches way above its weight as a tourism destination and has seen meaningful investment from the business community in recent years,” said Jason Fudin, Placemakr CEO and co-founder. “So being here helps spread the Placemakr brand to tons of new customers.”
What exactly is a pop-up hotel?
According to Placemakr, a pop-up hotel is a temporary accommodation option where guests can book an apartment unit in a building for a short-term stay, just like how they would book a hotel room.
The units being offered by Placemakr in downtown Reno, for example, are located inside an actual apartment building — the Ballpark Apartments near Greater Nevada Field. Ballpark Apartments broke ground in 2022 and opened last year.
“Placemakr’s pop-up hotel essentially allows apartment buildings to take advantage of unoccupied units at lease-up, which is the phase when the building first opens and intentionally staggers lease,” a spokesperson for Placemakr told the Reno Gazette Journal.
“The hospitality units will wind down in the building as it leases up with long-term residents.”
How much does it cost to stay at a pop-up hotel?
Placemakr is offering various rates for its pop-up hotel units.
A look at bookings for its Reno units at the official Placemakr website saw rooms starting at $152 per night with advance booking for a premium one-bedroom, one-bath unit that can accommodate four guests. The same unit can fetch rates above $200 daily depending on the booking date.
Amenities included with the unit are a queen bed, full kitchen, workspace, in-unit laundry, and access to the facility’s heated pool, fitness center, rooftop lounge, club room and pet spa. Other rooms available include a one-bedroom unit with balcony, and two-bedroom apartments.
So far in 2025, Placemakr has launched its services in five new properties nationwide, including the cities of Salt Lake City, Santa Clara, San Antonio and Pittsburgh.
Placemakr and its partners expect its Reno location to do well thanks to Ballpark Apartments’ proximity to the Truckee River and locations such as downtown and Midtown. Being able to easily drive to Lake Tahoe from Reno should also help, the company added.
“This is a … new build in a prime location,” said Sean Murphy, a partner with Ballpark Apartments developer Pacific Development. “Given the demand-drivers nearby and the draw Reno has, we know this pop-up hotel will be a hit with guests.”
