‘Smart’ hotel brand Yotel sets out growth plans

‘Smart’ hotel brand Yotel is keen for the UK trade’s support as it aims to open 12 hotels by 2019.

‘Smart’ hotel brand Yotel is keen for the UK trade’s support as it aims to open 12 hotels by 2019.

The business, which currently has a 713-cabin city hotel in New York along with properties at Heathrow, Gatwick and Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, will open an 80-room airside property at Paris Charles de Gaulle on July 1.

A 130-room hotel will open in the first quarter of 2019 at Singapore Changi airport with new hotels planned in cities including San Francisco, Boston, Miami, Brooklyn, Singapore and Dubai.

The properties have automated check-in and check-out, free Wi-Fi, monsoon showers, workstations and free hot drinks.

The company said it would continue to innovate to provide guests with “seamless, technology driven experiences” that rival its competitors, including the sharing-economy brand Airbnb.

The firm, which describes itself as offering “affordable luxury”, said its sales split is 35% trade, 35% direct and 30% online travel agents.

It pays commission on city hotels, bookable through the GDS. The airport hotels are not on GDSs or commissionable, but agents have access to group rates online.

At each new city location, the company will have a sales team focused on building relationships with agents, offering training and organising trips to the property.

Chief executive Hubert Viriot said: “By working closely with our experienced partners and investors we will enter new markets and continue to cater to the modern, tech-savvy global traveller.”