Dutch Hotel Brand CityHub has Signed it’s First International Site, in Copenhagen

Main Photo: The two current CityHub operations in the Netherlands

Date: October 2019

Location: Vesterbro, Copenhagen, Denmark

Name: CityHub Copenhagen – opening Summer 2020

No. of Keys:  215 hubs

Seller: The site is a former retail store

Buyer: Hot on the heels of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, CityHub’s third location will be in Copenhagen, which marks CityHub’s first step towards international expansion.

Launched four years ago in Amsterdam, CityHub was created to fulfill the gap between hotels and hostels. Founders Pieter van Tilburg and Sem Schuurkes, two assiduous travellers themselves, and former college buddies, recognised that the hotel industry was lacking satisfactory solutions for millennials who are looking for an accessible and authentic experience at the heart of a city.

Lauded for its digital-first stance and futuristic aesthetic, CityHub replaces the traditional hotel room with sleek Hubs, allowing travellers to curate and own their stay inside and out and delivering unforgettable city breaks. A dedicated team of ‘CityHosts’ are at hand 24/7 to ensure guests make the most of the CityHub facilities, and to help them navigate the city.

Following its Amsterdam success, CityHub opened its second location in Rotterdam in 2018 and now announces the opening of its newest location in summer 2020. Frequently recognised as one of the most healthiest and happiest cities in the world, Copenhagen is the Dutch brand’s first property outside The Netherlands. “CityHub Copenhagen is our first milestone in international development.

As a city known for its pioneering design and hospitality excellence, Copenhagen is a perfect fit for the brand,” says Pieter van Tilburg. “We plan to open ten more CityHubs across Europe’s key gateway cities within the next five years. We look forward to announcing our next locations soon.”

Designed by Danish studio Spacon & X, CityHub Copenhagen will offer 215 Hubs, making it the biggest CityHub property so far. It will be located in the vibrant neighbourhood of Vesterbro, an area which recently became a culture and creative hotspot, populated by artists, designer shops, cafes, restaurants, and galleries.

Breaking the usual development norms for hotels and hostels and demonstrating the flexibility of the CityHub infrastructure, CityHub Copenhagen will be located in a space that was previously used for retail. CityHub signed a long-term lease agreement with NREP, the leading real estate innovator in the Nordics, which is focused on creating long term value through real estate anchored businesses.

“Like CityHub, we like to challenge usual thinking. As NREP invests, owns or operates real estate, we always do so with a strong focus on the end-customer. With CityHub, we’re partnering with a young, pioneering brand which is currently one of the most innovative hotel concepts in Europe. For Copenhagen and the many millennials visiting the city, the arrival of CityHub adds a much more modern alternative to classic accommodation,” says NREP’s Toke Clausen, Head of Investments in Denmark.

“The location in the middle of hipster Vesterbro brings great value to young travelers and a modern hotel experience like CityHub. The new Metro extension has just opened two stations nearby, and with a few minutes of walking you enter some of the most exciting neighborhoods in Copenhagen like the trendy meatpacking district, posh Frederiksberg and the main square by the City Hall,” says Toke Clausen.

CityHub combines the privacy and comfort of a hotel with the sense of being in a community and the affordability of a hostel. Each Hub is equipped with a comfortable double bed, Wi-Fi, mood lighting and music streaming systems that guests can personalise. With the use of a personal RFID wristband, guests can check themselves in and serve themselves at the bar. Each location has a team of CityHosts who are available to provide local tips and guidance 24/7 via the CityHub app.

“We want to open up cities to a global community of travellers. CityHub combines human and tech expertise to provide guests with the smartest local service, at the best price,” says Pieter van Tilburg. “All aspects of CityHub are designed to empower guests to get the most from the city they’re staying in.

Created to provide solutions for smart travellers, CityHub rethinks the hospitality experience to cater to the needs of a new generation of global citizens. Winner of the Worldwide Hospitality Award “Best Innovation in Hotel Concept” in 2016, CityHub is a pioneer of the hub concept. Occupancy rates show that guests are big fans of the brand too, with 98% in Amsterdam, along with 80% and growing for Rotterdam.

“CityHub thrives to encourage responsible tourism, which in turn generates life and economic benefits for a city” concludes Pieter van Tilburg. “We like to think that CityHub’s model is the smartest alternative for a hotel or hostel for guests, municipalities and investors alike”.

THPT Comment: Hostels keep getting sexier! we like this concept of hotel/hostel hybrid and wish these ambitious pair the best of luck to get to their aim of 10 CityHubs in Europe.

First Seen: Hospitality Net

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