The AC Hotel Austin-University from RLJ Lodging Trust - rooftop pool, campus location and Marriott flag

The AC Hotel Austin-University puts 156 rooms, a rooftop pool and a bar right next to the University of Texas campus. This city hotel keeps the price of RLJ Lodging Trust shares in focus (ISIN US7613251065).

Reviewed: ad hoc news Bestseller & Flagship desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-23, 01:18. Details in the imprint.

AC Hotel Austin-University from RLJ Lodging Trust starts at street level with warm light spilling out of the glass lobby, the hum of the bar mixing with traffic from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Guests roll their carry-ons over smooth concrete and head straight for the rooftop pool.

What defines this hotel

The AC Hotel Austin-University is a 156-room select-service property in downtown Austin, branded under Marriott's AC Hotels flag and positioned a short walk from the University of Texas campus. Rooms skew business-friendly, with clean lines, firm mattresses and large desks aimed at short stays.

RLJ Lodging Trust highlights check-in via the Marriott Bonvoy app, so many guests bypass the front desk entirely and go straight to their floor. Once inside, the feel is quietly modern: cool-toned fabrics, a glass shower, and a faint smell of coffee drifting up from the lobby in the morning.

Location and target guests

The property sits at 1901 San Antonio Street, just north of downtown and one block from the UT campus, which makes it a natural choice for visiting professors, parents and conference attendees. From the higher floors, you can look out over burnt-orange stadium seats and Austin's growing skyline.

General counsel and interim CEO Leslie D. Hale has repeatedly underlined that university and medical markets form a core pillar of RLJ's strategy, and this AC Hotel fits that template with its proximity to UT and nearby medical facilities. Weekdays tilt toward corporate and university demand, while weekends see more leisure travelers and sports fans.

Rooftop pool and amenities

One of the property's visual hooks is the small rooftop pool, where guests float with a view of campus rooftops and downtown glass towers. In the late afternoon you can hear the faint echo of practice sessions from Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium carried on the wind.

The hotel offers a compact fitness room with cardio machines, free weights and large windows that keep it from feeling like a basement gym. Downstairs, the AC Lounge bar serves tapas-style plates and cocktails in the evening, while the AC Kitchen focuses on a European-inspired breakfast, including sliced charcuterie and croissants.

Rates, margins and demand

RLJ does not break out revenue per available room (RevPAR) by individual asset, but the company groups AC Hotel Austin-University within its urban select-service bucket, which has been recovering with business and group travel. Management has noted that college and medical markets have shown resilient midweek demand across the portfolio.

According to recent commentary, RLJ continues to recycle capital by selling non-core hotels and reinvesting in higher-growth markets and brand conversions, with select-service urban properties as a core focus. That context helps explain why a Marriott-branded, campus-adjacent hotel in Austin appears strategically important, even if it is not the largest asset in the portfolio.

Where this leaves investors

For RLJ, AC Hotel Austin-University is less about flashy luxury and more about steady occupancy from recurring university, medical and corporate guests. Overall, it illustrates how the trust leans on branded, well-located select-service hotels to stabilise cash flows throughout the cycle.

Key facts on AC Hotel Austin-University

• Product: AC Hotel Austin-University
• Manufacturer: RLJ Lodging Trust
• Category: Flagship/Bestseller hotel asset
• Launch: Opened in the late 2010s as a new-build AC Hotels by Marriott property in Austin
• RRP / Price: Dynamic nightly rates, typically quoted in US dollars via Marriott booking channels
• Availability: Bookable primarily through Marriott's official website and app, online travel agencies and corporate travel partners in the US market
• Target group: Business travelers, university visitors, medical guests and leisure travelers seeking a modern, campus-adjacent hotel in Austin
• Highlight / USP: Rooftop pool and bar within walking distance of the University of Texas campus under the AC Hotels by Marriott flag

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