The University of Utah Guest House has been a pillar of the campus community since its opening on Oct. 8, 1999. Originally built as part of the 2002 Olympic Village, this iconic campus resource sits at the vital intersection of education, sports and health. Over the past 26 years, it has welcomed visitors from around the world, with a guest list that has included Olympic athletes, researchers, students and their families and hospital patients.
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down campus in early 2020, the Guest House continued to serve the community by providing quarantine housing for students. When campus reopened in the fall of 2021, it continued to support students while the Sorensen Impact Center and Kahlert Village were under construction. Despite housing students, the Guest House reserved several rooms for hospital patients in need.
“It was really important to us to keep rooms available for hospital patients,” said Perry Hacker, Guest House director. “The last thing we wanted was for them to worry about finding a place to stay, especially while supporting loved ones or facing their own medical challenges.”
In May 2024, it bid farewell to its student residents. By September 2024, the Guest House had fully reopened as a hotel and conference center.
Now, the Guest House is embarking on a new chapter by joining Auxiliary Services, headed by Jennifer Reed, senior associate vice president for Auxiliary Services & Operations.
“Now is the time,” said Hacker. “This feels like the perfect opportunity to build a deeper connection with our campus community, while also aligning with President Randall’s goal of creating ‘college town magic.’ The future under Jenn Reed is bright.”
The Guest House officially became part of Auxiliary Services on July 1, 2025.
Looking ahead, the Guest House remains committed to providing excellent service, comfortable rooms and outstanding amenities. It is expected to host 50,000 unique visitors this year, with even more anticipated in the future. Voted the No. 1 hotel in Salt Lake City on TripAdvisor for 12 years, the Guest House is a guest favorite—earning rave reviews from both campus visitors and travelers alike for its unbeatable comfort and top-tier hospitality.
As part of the university community, the Guest House provides discounted rates to campus departments (using a chartfield, U-Shop or PCard), as well as to faculty, staff and campus visitors. To book a stay for yourself or your guests, contact us at info@guesthouse.utah.edu or universityguesthouse.com.