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Geneva is the third new opening for MEININGER Hotels this year, and the group’s second Swiss location after Zurich, where a new MEININGER hotel has just opened last month. The newly constructed building in Geneva’s Charmilles district offers a total of 104 rooms and 362 beds. Two more new openings are on the agenda for MEININGER Hotels this year–in Innsbruck and Marseille. A total of five new hotels will open in 2021.

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Geneva is the third new opening for MEININGER Hotels this year, and the group's second Swiss location after Zurich, where a new MEININGER hotel has just opened last month. The newly constructed building in Geneva's Charmilles district offers a total of 104 rooms and 362 beds. Two more new openings are on the agenda for MEININGER Hotels this year-in Innsbruck and Marseille. A total of five new hotels will open in 2021.

Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and an extremely attractive city with many green areas, Lake Geneva and numerous cultural attractions. Additionally, the United Nations Office based in Geneva makes the city a global diplomatic center. "Geneva is an important location for the portfolio of MEININGER Hotels," says Doros Theodorou, CCO of MEININGER Hotels. "With attractions from science, culture, and diplomacy, the proximity to the Swiss and French Alps, Geneva attracts visitors from all around the world. Our goal in Switzerland is to offer guests affordable accommodation with an attractive price-performance ratio so, even travelers on a budget can discover the beauty of this city."

Flexible room concept for different guest segments

The new MEININGER Genève Centre Charmilles is nestled between city and nature, just 10 minutes by bus from the main train station and 20 minutes from the airport. In 25 minutes by bus, you can reach the famous fountain Jet d'Eau at Lake Geneva. Not far from the hotel are recreation sites like Parc des Franchises and Parc Geisendorf. The hybrid concept of MEININGER Hotels offers 104 rooms with two, three, four or six beds. "The flexible room structure of MEININGER Hotels allows for high-cost efficiency," says Doros Theodorou. "All MEININGER hotels offer classic double rooms, but also private and shared multi-bedded rooms with up to 6 beds."

Space-style interior design

As home to the CERN, the world's largest laboratory for particle physics, and Geneva being the research center for conditions in the universe at the time of the big bang, the world of physics, shapes and colors of the universe set the tone for the interior design of the hotel. Public spaces offer the MEININGER-typical guest kitchen, game zone with foosball and billiards, and bar. There is also a washer, dryer, luggage room and free Wi-Fi for all guests.

Switzerland's largest historical center & 36 museums

The Old Town of Geneva is home to Switzerland's largest historical center with St. Pierre Cathedral. It is only a few minutes' walk through the narrow streets from the cathedral to the shore of Lake Geneva with the city's most famous sight: Jet d'Eau. The water fountain, up to 140 meters high, emits 500 liters per second into the sky and has become the city's landmark. Geneva is also popular for its English Garden, the Rose Garden and the many other parks and gardens-20 percent of the city is green space. Culture enthusiasts will love the award-winning Ethnography Museum, the Patek Philippe Museum of Watches and Jewellery, Maison Tavel, a museum about Geneva's history, and 33 other museums in the most important city in western Switzerland.

New openings in 2021: Innsbruck and Marseille

"Our industry is experiencing tough times and facing many challenges caused by the pandemic and its consequences. However, we have been able to shift priorities, drive digitalization and growth, including the five new openings for 2021," says CCO Doros Theodorou. The MEININGER Hotel Genève Centre Charmilles is the second of its kind in Switzerland after Zurich. In France, the opening of a MEININGER hotel in Marseille is on the agenda this year after the MEININGER in Bordeaux Gare Saint-Jean opened this May. In Austria, another hotel will open this summer in Innsbruck.

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It is the second of five new hotels that MEININGER Hotels will open this year and the third in France: the MEININGER Hotel Bordeaux Gare Saint-Jean opened 26 May. Close to main train station Gare Saint Jean, the hotel can accommodate up to 493 guests in a total of 162 rooms. With this project, the hotel group once again emphasizes its ambitious growth plans during the pandemic.

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It is the second of five new hotels that MEININGER Hotels will open this year and the third in France: the MEININGER Hotel Bordeaux Gare Saint-Jean opened 26 May. Close to main train station Gare Saint Jean, the hotel can accommodate up to 493 guests in a total of 162 rooms. With this project, the hotel group once again emphasizes its ambitious growth plans during the pandemic.

MEININGER's typical hybrid concept

The MEININGER Hotel Bordeaux Gare Saint-Jean offers 162 rooms with either two, three, four or six beds and one large guest kitchen, free Wi-Fi, washing machine and dryer for guests, a children's play area, and game zone. "MEININGER's hybrid hotel concept serves target groups from backpackers and families to business travelers and school groups. The flexible room structure with twin and multi-bedded rooms with up to 6 beds compensates for market fluctuations and enables maximum operational efficiency at peak times," says Doros Theodorou, CCO of MEININGER Hotels. "We want to and plan to continue to expand this successful hospitality concept throughout Europe in the future."

Further openings in France, Austria and Switzerland this year

"We are looking forward to this year's new openings, which started with MEININGER's market entry in Switzerland, in Zurich in May," says Doros Theodorou. The MEININGER Hotel Bordeaux Gare Saint-Jean is the third hotel to open in France in just one and a half years, after Paris and Lyon. "During the tough times for the hotel industry in 2020 and 2021, we have been able to shift our priorities and give focus to internal company projects in digitalization, but have also managed to maintain the momentum of our opening programs," says Theodorou. By the end of 2021, a fourth hotel in France will follow. This time in Marseille, located in the district of La Joliette in the 2nd arrondissement, north of the Old Port. La Joliette is the center of France's largest urban renewal project Euroméditerranée, which represents the modernization and restructuring of the city center and former industrial port, making it the perfect location for an innovative MEININGER hotel. With Zurich, Bordeaux and Marseille, two more MEININGER hotel openings are expected this year in Innsbruck and Geneva.

The new MEININGER Hotel Bordeaux Gare Saint-Jean is located in the southern district of St. Jean, an up-and-coming neighborhood with many restaurants, bars, markets, bistros and clubs. Tram lines C and D as well as six bus lines can be reached in no time to get to the world's largest digital art center Bassins de Lumiéres or the interactive wine museum Cité du Vin. Merignac Airport is also directly connected with bus line 1 from Peyronnet station.

A city between vineyards, culture and architecture

Bordeaux is not only a city for those who love the world-famous wine that grows in the surrounding vineyards, but also for visitors to the Vinexpo Wine Fair and other international congresses. Increasingly, many culture and architecture enthusiasts are visiting the port city in France's south-west. After all, the 350 historical monuments and sights of the Old Town helped to recognize it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. These include Esplanade des Quinconces, Europe' largest inner-city square, Cathedrale St. André, the old town hall tower, or the almost 80-metre-wide waterfront promenade on the River Garonne. The historic ensemble of Bordeaux is considered to be the largest and most beautiful within France. In just a 15-minute walk, guests of the new MEININGER hotel can reach the city center and arrange beautiful holiday pictures e.g., on the Place de la Bourse, where a huge, accessible water level impressively reflects the entire ensemble.

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MEININGER Hotels starts the season of new openings in May with a market entry: In Zurich, the hotel chain opens its first hotel in Switzerland. A second hotel will follow in June in Geneva, western Switzerland. However, the opening of the 174-room hotel in the sustainable Greencity district on the outskirts of Zurich not only marks the market entry into a new country, but also the start of a total of five new openings in the pandemic year 2021.

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MEININGER Hotels starts the season of new openings in May with a market entry: In Zurich, the hotel chain opens its first hotel in Switzerland. A second hotel will follow in June in Geneva, western Switzerland. However, the opening of the 174-room hotel in the sustainable Greencity district on the outskirts of Zurich not only marks the market entry into a new country, but also the start of a total of five new openings in the pandemic year 2021. This growth in existing and new markets is a top priority for MEININGER Hotels, along with digitalisation, streamlining the organisation and sustainability.

Limmat, Lake Zurich, Uetliberg, major banks and watch shops - Switzerland's largest city is known for its beautiful location and proverbial Swiss economy. Despite the high cost of living, Zurich is considered a city with an extremely high quality of life. In addition to chic shops, the city on the Limmat also has a lively art scene and many leisure activities. Anyone who lives here can consider themselves lucky. And so can anyone on holiday here, because Zurich is always worth a trip. "And thanks to MEININGER, there is now also affordable accommodation in Zurich - without compromising on service and comfort," says Doros Theodorou, CCO of MEININGER Hotels. A stroll through the picturesque alleys of the old town takes you past the Lindenhof, the town hall and the Grossmünster. From Bürkliplatz you can enjoy the fantastic view over the lake to the peaks of the Swiss Alps. Those interested in culture can visit the Zurich Opera House, one of the 14 art museums or the Cabaret Voltaire, where Dadaism was born in 1916.

From the sustainable Greencity to the old town in ten minutes

The new MEININGER Hotel Zurich is located at Zurich-Manegg station in the sustainable Greencity district. It takes around ten minutes by S-Bahn to reach the city centre, and 30 minutes to Zurich Kloten Airport. In Greencity, the name says it all: 100 per cent of the supply comes from renewable energy sources, the environmentally friendly mobility concept offers, among other things, two car-sharing locations and ten per cent of the parking spaces are reserved for electric vehicles. "Greencity will develop from a showcase project for sustainable urban neighbourhoods into an established living, working and living space, it will hopefully serve as a model for many more urban building projects and stand for the proof that quality of life and responsibility are very compatible," says Theodorou. Already, new restaurants, cafés, shops and flats - all sharing the same sustainable vision - are continuously springing up in the green district. And on the doorstep are the green slopes of the Sihl Valley, with their extensive hiking trails inviting visitors to beautiful excursions into the Swiss mountains.

Where Dadaism complements the hybrid concept

The new hotel building, designed by the renowned Zurich architectural firm Gigon/Guyer, has 174 rooms with a total of 582 beds on six floors. True to the MEININGER hybrid concept, there are twin, 3-, 4- and 6-bed rooms. Of course, the new hotel - in keeping with its location - has been awarded the LEED Platinum and greenproperty Silber sustainability certifications. The interior design was inspired by the art style of Dadaism. Unusual furniture, decorations and design elements allude to the art movement of the early 20th century, which is intended to promote uninhibited fantasy and express irrationality. As in every MEININGER hotel, there is also a guest kitchen in Zurich, a game zone with foosball

table, washing machine, dryer, luggage room, free wifi, a bar and various card and board games to borrow. By the way: although you can spend a lot of money eating, drinking and shopping in Zurich, the prices at the new MEININGER Hotel are kept within limits. One night in a double room costs from 43 euros per person, in a dormitory from 21 euros.

Affordable solutions for increased demand

As to why MEININGER decided to enter the Swiss market, the company's CCO, Doros Theodorou, explains: "In recent years, a lot of supply has entered the Zurich hotel market, putting pressure on prices and occupancy rates. The creation of new demand generators, such as urban development projects in Zurich West and Europaallee, as well as growing passenger volumes at Zurich Airport, caused demand to grow. This trend will continue despite the pandemic. The long-term outlook is positive. Furthermore, with our product we are tapping into new guest segments for whom an overnight stay in Zurich was not very affordable until now. The international reputation as an important financial centre and corporate headquarters as well as the high attractiveness as a tourist destination mean stable prospects in a secure environment. Last but not least, Zurich is a big name especially among American and Asian tourists as well, and these numbers will continue to rise. We have carefully analysed the developments of the Zurich hotel market in recent years and incorporated them into our conservative calculations."

Zurich is followed by Innsbruck, Bordeaux, Geneva and Marseille

The MEININGER Hotel Zurich is the first of its kind in Switzerland. In June, a second hotel will open in Geneva. In France, the new openings of MEININGER Bordeaux and Marseille are scheduled for this year, and in Austria, MEININGER Innsbruck will open in May. "We are looking forward to this year's new openings and plan to continue our ambitious expansion in Europe in the long term," says the CCO of MEININGER Hotels.

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Expansion, new market entry and more hotel projects in the pipeline - MEININGER Hotels is pushing ahead with growth plans. Investments in digitalisation and sustainability, and priorities in creating a leaner organisation as the group moves forward are also high on the priority list of items being moved forward during lockdown.

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Expansion, new market entry and more hotel projects in the pipeline - MEININGER Hotels is pushing ahead with growth plans. Investments in digitalisation and sustainability, and priorities in creating a leaner organisation as the group moves forward are also high on the priority list of items being moved forward during lockdown.

Despite Europe-wide travel restrictions and a room occupancy rate of only 30 percent in European hotels, MEININGER still sold 1.3 million beds last year. "Clearly, as a result of the pandemic our industry is facing many challenges," says Doros Theodorou, CCO of MEININGER Hotels. "But looking at the positive aspects of the last year, we have been able to shift priorities relatively quickly, and with the downtime found the time to work on many internal pending projects of digitalisation and other. Additionally, we have also maintained momentum with our opening programme, as well as creating a more streamlined business. We're pleased to report that as a result MEININGER hotels will open in Zurich, Geneva, Bordeaux, Marseille and Innsbruck this year."

A MEININGER hotel for the Austrian Alpine metropolis Innsbruck

After the renovation of the building opposite the Innsbruck University Library, the fifth MEININGER Hotel in Austria after locations in Vienna and Salzburg, will open this summer. It will include 74 rooms with a total of 259 beds, as well as its own ski and bike room, attracting guests with sporting ambitions to this new Alpine city hotel.

Market entry in Switzerland with openings in Zurich and Geneva

With new hotels in Zurich and Geneva, MEININGER is entering the competitive Swiss market. Both hotels are expected to open this summer.

Its Zurich hotel, with 174 rooms and 582 beds, is being built in the new sustainable Greencity district in the south of the city, not far from the popular recreation areas on the River Sihl. By public transport guests can reach the city centre from the MEININGER Hotel Zurich quickly and in an environmentally friendly way, and there are also two car sharing services in the immediate vicinity of the hotel. Greencity is 100 percent powered by renewable energy sources.

In the French-speaking part of Switzerland, in Geneva, 104 new rooms with a total of 368 beds are being built under the direction of MEININGER Hotels. The location in Switzerland's second largest city occupies an important place in the MEININGER portfolio. After all, Geneva is not only a diplomatic centre but also an international showcase for science. Lake Geneva, the museums and other cultural attractions as well as the hotel's proximity to the Swiss and French Alps should all attract additional visitors.

Two new MEININGER hotels in France: Bordeaux and Marseille 

The new hotel building in Bordeaux will be the third MEININGER hotel to open in France within just one and a half years (Lyon and Paris opened at the end of 2019). Planned to open in May 2021, it is located near the main train station, Saint Jean, and offers guests 173 rooms with 526 beds. The building was designed by French architect Patrick Arotcharen, who integrated parts of the old façade of a former building into the new design. A further location is planned for France in 2021 too, with the doors of the MEININGER Hotel in Marseille set to open for the first time at the end of the year.

Doros Theodorou, CCO of MEININGER Hotels, said: "MEININGER Hotels' hybrid concept differs from other hotel brands on the national and international market. We appeal to leisure and business travellers, backpackers, groups and families. The flexible room structure, combined with the option of renting just one bed in a dormitory, allows MEININGER to respond to requirements from a range of guests each season. We continue to see enormous growth potential in all markets, especially those for price-sensitive guests, including Switzerland."

Investments and expansions determine the future

MEININGER Hotels also intends to invest in other markets in the future. Doros Theodorou: "We are very excited with our openings this year and plan to continue our expansion across Europe post-pandemic knowing that MEININGER's hybrid concept provides plenty of opportunities."

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MEININGER Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Ajit Menon as Interim Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of former CEO, Hannes Spanring; and Andrew Scott as Chief Financial Officer.

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Hotel in Paris center

MEININGER Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Ajit Menon as Interim Chief Executive Officer, following the departure of former CEO, Hannes Spanring; and Andrew Scott as Chief Financial Officer.

Ajit has many years' experience in senior leadership roles in various banking and financial institutions, with an impressive track record of delivering growth and value. He has been serving as CEO of Holidaybreak, the Company's shareholder since September 2019, and was previously Deputy CEO since 2013. He has been a member of the Board of MEININGER Hotels since June 2015.

Andrew joined MEININGER Hotels in February 2020 and has extensive experience in financing, rigorous capital allocation and business transformation, gained through senior roles at global financial and professional services organisations. He has held leadership roles across private equity and public companies, including his most recent position as CFO for the Resort Group, a privately owned developer and operator of up-scale hotel resorts. He also brings experience from Travelex and Hilton Group PLC (Ladbrokes), and trained as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co.

Ajit and Andrew join the rest of the senior leadership team comprising of Thomas Hagemann, COO; Doros Theodorou, CCO, and Clare Gates, HRD.

"MEININGER Hotels is well positioned to meet the challenges of the current situation and has the full support of its shareholder SSG Capital" says Menon. "MEININGER Hotels and its subsidiaries currently have no bank debt. The Group is seeking to further strengthen its balance sheet by raising funds from its shareholders and banks over the next few weeks. As we continue to monitor developments in all the countries in which we operate, MEININGER Hotels is actively engaged with its employees, partners, landlords and government agencies in all our markets. Our unique model built on resilience and flexibility allows us to respond to dynamic conditions and adapt further to meet changing market needs to ensure MEININGER's future success" Menon adds.

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At the beginning of October, MEININGER Hotels celebrated a milestone in its international growth and expansion strategy with the opening of the MEININGER Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes and the associated entry into the French market. The MEININGER Hotel Lyon Centre Berthelot is the second hotel in France, realized in partnership with Covivio. The hotel group emphasizes its goal to become the market leader in the hybrid hotel segment in France.

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MEININGER Hotel Lyon Centre Berthelot

At the beginning of October, MEININGER Hotels celebrated a milestone in its international growth and expansion strategy with the opening of the MEININGER Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes and the associated entry into the French market. The MEININGER Hotel Lyon Centre Berthelot is the second hotel in France, realized in partnership with Covivio. The hotel group emphasizes its goal to become the market leader in the hybrid hotel segment in France.

The opening of the MEININGER Hotel in Lyon takes place right in time for one of the most famous spectacles in the region, the "Fête des Lumières", which takes place from 5 to 8 December 2019. Every year, the famous Festival of Lights brings together light artists from all over the world in France's third largest city to outdo each other with brilliant light installations.

"The opening of the MEININGER Hotel Lyon Centre Berthelot is an important step towards our goal to operate more than 2,600 beds in the French market by the beginning of 2022," says Hannes Spanring, CEO of MEININGER Hotels. "Since October we have been operating our first hotel in France, the MEININGER Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes, and we are delighted to have opened the country's second MEININGER Hotel after only two months and just in time for the "Fête des Lumières", one of the city's most important events attracting local and international guests," said Spanring, adding: "With our industry-unique hybrid hotel concept, we offer a completely new type of accommodation in France. This makes us a pioneer and serious new player in the market. Our goal is to grow massively in France in the coming years. Further MEININGER Hotels will open in Marseille and Bordeaux till the beginning of 2022. And we are looking into further destinations such as Strasbourg or Toulouse."

Plenty of room for light

Light plays a decisive role in the interior design of the seven-storey new building. Inspired by the Festival of Lights and by the Lyon-born Lumière brothers, the creators of the film, light is the defining design theme of the hotel. On all floors, extraordinary light installations characterize the concept developed by Axel Schoenert Architects and create a special atmosphere. The hotel has a total of 169 rooms with 590 beds and a gross floor area of over 5,360 square meters. 24-hour reception, lobby, breakfast area, outdoor terrace, bar and the MEININGER-typical guest kitchen and game zone are located on the ground floor. The underground car park also provides 78 parking spaces for hotel guests.

The project was realized with MEININGER's development partner Covivio, European market leader for hotel investments. "After Paris in October, this second French opening strengthens the European adventure that we conduct with MEININGER Hotels. Our role is to support them in their development in major European cities and to offer a new customer experience. The hotel market in Lyon where Covivio is already present is very dynamic and the MEININGER concept differs from the existing offer," adds Dominique Ozanne, Deputy CEO Covivio.

Perfect fit for the French business hub

Every year, the metropolis whose inner city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts over five million visitors and is thus one of the most popular destinations for city breaks in France. But the capital of the Rhône Alpes region is also an international hub for trade and industry. Lyon is France's second most popular economic center after Paris. In the period from 2009 to 2014, 65 per cent of hotel stays were due to a business trip.

"Lyon is the country's second most important business hub after Paris," explains Doros Theodorou, CCO of MEININGER Hotels. "We therefore expect a larger segment of business guests in Lyon than in other MEININGER cities. Nevertheless, the MEININGER Hotel Lyon Centre Berthelot also offers multi-bed rooms as is typical for MEININGER. Our mix of the best of both worlds - hotel and hostel - is unique and a competitive advantage in the industry. Guests benefit from high comfort, low prices and a unique atmosphere with a clear focus on community," Theodorou continues.

The MEININGER Hotel Lyon Centre Berthelot is located in the 7th arrondissement, a young and creative district in close proximity to the Université Lumière Lyon. Located close to the river banks of the Rhône, the hotel is the ideal starting point to explore the many highlights of the city. Thanks to the metro and tram, which are only a few steps away from the hotel, the Lyon Cathedral or the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière can be reached quickly and also the Place des Jacobins as well as the Musée des Confluences and the Lyon Art Museum are in the immediate vicinity.

Signs are set for growth

This is the hotel group's sixth new opening this year. On 9 October 2019, the MEININGER Hotel Group celebrated its market entry in France with the opening of the MEININGER Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes. On 6 August 2019, the company inaugurated its second hotel in Belgium, the MEININGER Hotel Bruxelles Gare du Midi. This was preceded by the opening of the MEININGER Hotel Heidelberg Hauptahnhof on 24 July, the MEININGER Hotel München Olympiapark on 25 March and the MEININGER Budapest Great Market Hall on 18 March.

Only recently, MEININGER Hotels signed contracts for new market entries in Israel and Poland: The first hotel in the Middle East is expected to open in Tel Aviv in the second half of 2024. The MEININGER Hotel in Warsaw will be completed by the end of 2022. In total, 15 secured hotel projects are under development. For 2021, the hotel group is planning market entries in the U.S., Iceland and Switzerland and plans to operate a total of 35,000 beds internationally by 2024.

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The hotel group MEININGER reaches a new milestone in its expansion: MEININGER Hotels has signed a contract for its first property in Tel Aviv, its market entry into Israel. The signing for the first hotel in the Middle East is part of the growth plans to operate over 35,000 beds worldwide by 2024. The hotel will be located in a 28-storey mixed-use building in Levanda St 53 and is expected to open second half of 2024. The project is being realized with an Israeli group of investors.

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New MEININGER Hotel in Tel Aviv

The hotel group MEININGER reaches a new milestone in its expansion: MEININGER Hotels has signed a contract for its first property in Tel Aviv, its market entry into Israel. The signing for the first hotel in the Middle East is part of the growth plans to operate over 35,000 beds worldwide by 2024. The hotel will be located in a 28-storey mixed-use building in Levanda St 53 and is expected to open second half of 2024. The project is being realized with an Israeli group of investors.

In 2018, about 4 million tourists visited Israel, a record-breaking number resulting from a solid marketing strategy, the strengthening of infrastructures as well as the collaboration with foreign travel agencies and low-cost airlines. Tel Aviv has seen an 11 percent increase in visitor numbers last year alone and continuing increase in demand for accommodation over many years, especially in the budget segments. "The expansion into Israel opens up great potential for MEININGER Hotels in a completely new market," says Hannes Spanring, CEO of MEININGER Hotels. "We are the first internationally operating hospitality company to bring the hybrid hotel concept to the Middle East. Although the city's supply has grown immensely over the last 10 years, accommodation in the hostel, economy and budget segments is severely under-represented. As is typical for MEININGER Hotels, we expect high room occupancy rates in Tel Aviv of 90 percent and more."

MEININGER Hotel in 28-storey new building in Tel Aviv-Yafo

The MEININGER Hotel Tel Aviv will offer 210 rooms and 800 beds across the floors four to 15, with an exclusive lobby on the ground floor. "Tel Aviv is a city that is equally visited by business and city travellers," says Doros Theodorou, Chief Commercial Officer of MEININGER Hotels. "Our hybrid concept, which combines the best features of hotel and hostel, serves this mix of guests in the city very well. We will be offering two-, three-, four- and six-bed rooms. In Tel Aviv, we are bringing forward a MEININGER-typical hotel that combines the reliable service and high quality amenities of a hotel with the advantages of a hostel: these include a guest kitchen, a game zone and spacious public areas where guests meet and socialise."

Israel’s Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin said: “Within the framework of the Tourism Ministry's policy of reducing vacation costs in Israel and in order to encourage competition, we are working hard to introduce low-cost hospitality chains into Israel. I am pleased that our efforts are bearing fruit and I would like to congratulate MEININGER on its entry into Israel. This is a vote of confidence in Israeli tourism, following the record-breaking figures in incoming tourism. We are sure that this is just the beginning.”

Amir Halevi, Director-General of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, said: "I congratulate the international MEININGER chain on its entry into the Israeli tourism industry which is an expression of the Ministry of Tourism’s global efforts working with entrepreneurs and hotel chains. The introduction of the hotel giant, which has taken low-cost tourism as its mission, is another step in the long-term process spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism in promoting budget tourism in Israel. This, as a result of the changing profile of today’s tourist and the need to facilitate accommodation options that “suit every budget”, thereby allowing for a wide range of tourists to enjoy and travel throughout Israel."

Top location near the Ha'Hagana railway station

The new MEININGER Hotel is located in the south-east of Tel Aviv, east of the Neve Sha'anan neighbourhood and in walking distance to the Rothschild Boulevard and the city centre. It is well connected to public transport: The Ha'Hagana railway station and the central bus station are within walking distance of less than 10 minutes. The international airport Ben Gurion is only 25 minutes away by car, direct trains from Ha'Hagana station run to the airport within 10 minutes, Jerusalem can be reached within 45 minutes. Guests of the MEININGER Hotel in Tel Aviv can also easily reach the Old City of Jaffa, the Tel Aviv beaches and other major attractions by foot or by bus.  Several bus stops are less than 200 meters from the hotel. Popular neighbourhoods such as Nahalat Binyamin and Florentin, with many galleries, cafes, bars and restaurants, are also in the immediate vicinity of the hotel.

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MEININGER Hotels has today signed a contract for a new hotel in Liverpool, reinforcing its aim for further growth in the UK.

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MEININGER in Liverpool

MEININGER Hotels has today signed a contract for a new hotel in Liverpool, reinforcing its aim for further growth in the UK.

"Our new hotel property in Liverpool is an existing building that will be converted into a typical MEININGER Hotel according by spring 2021," says Thomas Hagemann, COO of MEININGER Hotels. "On a gross floor area of 36,049 sq ft (3,349 sq m), the result will be a state-of-the-art accommodation with 87 rooms and 277 beds spread over six floors, a lobby, reception, guest kitchen, bar, lounge, game zone as well as a breakfast area and luggage room.

“Our guests can also look forward to sufficient social spaces for shared community experiences as well as to our flexible room concept, which is unique in the industry. The MEININGER Hotel Liverpool will appeal to individual, group and business travellers with its room structure consisting of two, three and four-bed rooms."

The MEININGER Hotel Liverpool will be located on Union Court, right in the heart of the city. Most of the main cultural, architectural and gastronomic attractions of the city are within walking distance of the hotel: from the UNESCO world heritage buildings around the Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool One, the Tate Gallery or the Cavern Club. Thanks to the excellent public transport links via the nearby train and bus stations, both Anfield and Goodison Park are also within easy reach for football fans.

This will be the MEININGER Group’s second hotel in the UK after the opening of the MEININGER Hotel London Hyde Park in 2006. A MEININGER Hotel Manchester is also underway and expected to open at the end of 2021.

Hannes Spanring, CEO of MEININGER Hotels commented: “Together with openings planned for this year in Paris and Lyon as well as next year in Washington D.C., which will mark the respective market entries in France and the U.S., Liverpool is an important milestone in MEININGER Hotels’ goal to operate approximately 34,000 beds internationally by 2024.”

"There is no doubt that the UK capital is very popular with visitors, and we had a 94% occupancy rate last year at our Hyde Park hotel," he added. "But the UK is very rich in attractive destinations with enormous development potential elsewhere too. We are therefore delighted to have signed the contract for a new MEININGER Hotel in Liverpool.

“In Liverpool, the figures for overnight stays and hotel offerings have shown a sustained upward trend in recent years, and the forecasts are also very positive," Spanring continues. "The current range of rooms consists mainly of four-star and budget hotels, hostels account for only one percent of all accommodation in Liverpool to date. Our goal is to become the UK market leader in this segment with our unique hybrid hotel concept, which combines the service and comfort of international budget hotels with the exceptional amenities and flexible room structure of hostels."

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The MEININGER hotel group is celebrating a major milestone in its growth and expansion strategy, entering the French hotel market with its fifth opening this year: the MEININGER Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes. The project is being brought forward with French development partner Covivio.

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MEININGER Hotel in Paris has opened its doors!

The MEININGER hotel group is celebrating a major milestone in its growth and expansion strategy, entering the French hotel market with its fifth opening this year: the MEININGER Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes. The project is being brought forward with French development partner Covivio.

The opening marks the beginning of MEININGER’s strategy to become the market leader in French hybrid hotel market. Three more national hotel projects are currently under development in Lyon, Bordeaux and Marseille, which will combine MEININGER's typical service and comfort of an international budget hotel with exceptional facilities and a flexible room structure that is unique in the industry.

"France is the world's leading tourist destination and a very important market for us. In 2018, almost 90 million travellers from all over the world visited the country, drawn by its rich art and culture, long history, unique architecture and of course excellent cuisine. We are all the more delighted to have opened the first MEININGER Hotel in the French capital now," says Hannes Spanring, CEO of MEININGER Hotels.

He adds: "With our industry-unique hybrid hotel concept, we offer a completely new type of accommodation in France. This makes us a pioneer and serious new player in the market. Our goal is to achieve massive growth in France in the coming years and increase our capacity to 885 rooms and 2,601 beds in the country by the end of 2021 alone."

Stylishly-elegant new building with comfort and service

The MEININGER Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes will become one of the group's flagship properties, with 249 rooms, 946 beds in total, a gross floor area of 8,000 sqm and a diverse food and beverage offer. A 24-hour reception, lobby, lounge, breakfast room, outdoor terrace, bar and the MEININGER-typical guest kitchen and game zone will all be found on the ground floor.

The project is being brought forward in partnership with Covivio, a European leader in hotel investment and owner of the building on Boulevard Carnot. “We are very proud to support MEININGER in its first French hotel and as it grows across Europe. It offers a hybrid product that has never been seen in France with one concept for different types of customers. We are confident in the success of this new innovative offer in Paris,” comments Dominique Ozanne, Deputy CEO Covivio.

Architecturally, the new building bears the signature of Daniel Vaniche (DVVD Architectes) who designed a dynamic, multi-layered hotel building that offers state-of-the-art environmentally friendly design and is a vibrant addition to the surrounding area. The building’s rooms, facilities and installations are all designed to ensure a smooth day-to-day operation. The interior design, by Axel Schoenert Architect, is inspired by the French capital itself and refers to Parisian codes, the bohemian Paris and elements of nature which can be found throughout the decoration, colors and materials. The elegant, high quality furnishings create an inviting, cosy atmosphere, and on the ground floor guests can expect a stylish, light-flooded, spacious lounge.

Great connections across the city

Located in the 12th arrondissement close to the popular city park and recreation area Bois de Vincennes as well as the Paris Zoo, the MEININGER Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes offers individual, group and business travellers a peaceful retreat in the bustling capital city. Numerous restaurants and cafés in the hotel surroundings invite you to stroll as well as the four-kilometre-long Coulée verte René-Dumont – an idyllic walking path connecting the Place de la Bastille with the 12th arrondissement. World-famous Parisian landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and Disneyland or are easily accessible thanks to excellent public transport links via the nearby tram station Alexandra David-Néel and the line 1 metro station Porte de Vincennes.

This is the hotel group’s fifth new opening this year. On 6 August 2019, the company inaugurated its second hotel in Belgium, the MEININGER Hotel Bruxelles Gare du Midi. This was preceded by the opening of the MEININGER Hotel Heidelberg Central Station on 24 July, the MEININGER Hotel München Olympiapark on 25 March and the MEININGER Budapest Great Market Hall on 18 March. The MEININGER Hotel Lyon Centre Berthelot, another operation in partnership with Covivio, will open its doors in December 2019.

The group is planning further openings globally, including market entry in the USA and elsewhere next year, and plans to operate a total of 34,000 beds internationally by 2024.

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At MEININGER Hotels, the signs continue to point to expansion: the hotel group signed a contract for its first property in Warsaw and is thus celebrating its official market entry in Poland. Together with openings planned for this year in Paris and Lyon as well as next year in Washington D.C., which will mark the respective market entries in France and the U.S., MEININGER Hotels is massively pushing its international growth strategy to manage around 34,000 beds by 2024.

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MEININGER Hotel in Warsaw

At MEININGER Hotels, the signs continue to point to expansion: the hotel group signed a contract for its first property in Warsaw and is thus celebrating its official market entry in Poland. Together with openings planned for this year in Paris and Lyon as well as next year in Washington D.C., which will mark the respective market entries in France and the U.S., MEININGER Hotels is massively pushing its international growth strategy to manage around 34,000 beds by 2024. 

"Poland is an absolute growth market. Warsaw in particular has developed enormously in the wake of increased foreign investment and economic growth in recent years. Be it new roads, bridges and buildings, the expanded public transport system or Warsaw's largest and mosat important airport, Chopin, which had a total of 17.7 million passengers in 2018 and is thus increasingly becoming the most important hub in Eastern Europe. In terms of infrastructure, Warsaw is a top address in Europe," says Hannes Spanring, CEO of MEININGER Hotels.

This development is also noticeable in the tourism segment. Both arrivals and overnight stays have risen sharply by 46.9 percent and 53.2 percent respectively since 2012. The forecasts are also positive and assume that both business and leisure tourism in Warsaw will continue to grow in the coming years. "This is due on the one hand to the flourishing domestic tourism resulting from the sustained economic upswing in Poland, and on the other hand to the increasing foreign tourism, which is favoured by the increasing flight connections of European low-cost carriers to Warsaw. Since 2013, 26 new hotel properties have been built in Warsaw. However, the market is dominated by the mid- and upscale segment, and the budget and economy segment still has plenty of development potential in terms of international quality standards. With our unique hybrid hotel concept, which combines the service and comfort of international budget hotels with the exceptional facilities and flexible room structure of hostels, our goal is now to become the market leader in this segment in Poland," Spanring continued.

Existing building will be converted into a typical MEININGER Hotel                                                                                        

"The MEININGER Hotel Warsaw is an existing building. We will modernize the property from scratch, so that by the end of the year 2022 there will be 151 rooms with a total of 456 beds", says Doros Theodorou, CCO of MEININGER Hotels. "In addition, the newest addition to our portfolio will offer the MEININGER style and comfort, including a lobby, reception, guest kitchen, bar, lounge, game zone, breakfast area and luggage room, as well as five on-site parking spaces. Of course our guests can look forward to enough social spaces for shared community experiences as well as our unique, flexible room concept. The MEININGER Hotel Warsaw will appeal to individuals, groups and business travelers with its room structure consisting of double rooms, private multi-bed rooms as well as dormitories."

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