EasyHotel
 | |
| Public limited company | |
| Traded as | LSE: EZH |
| Industry | Hotels |
| Founded | January 19, 2004 |
| Founder | Stelios Haji-Ioannou |
| Headquarters | London |
Number of locations | 20 |
Area served | Europe, Africa, Middle East |
Key people | Simon Champion (chief executive) |
| Services | Lodging |
| Website |
easyhotel |
EasyHotel (styled easyHotel) is a budget hotel chain based in London. The company was incorporated in 2004 and opened its first hotel in 2005.
EasyGroup Holdings Ltd (the investment vehicle of EasyHotel founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his family) is the largest shareholder with 55.7% of the equity and 49% of the votes (as of June 2014).
It is listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.
History
EasyHotel opened its first hotel in London in 2005.
In 2013 the chain expanded into Africa with its Fastjet investor Lonrho and opened a 60-room hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa.[1]
In December 2013, a failed 125-room hotel in Glasgow was purchased by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou for £2.3million[2] and reopened in January 2014.
In June 2014, the company was listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, allowing Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou to reduce his 100% stake.
Operations
Following the opening of EasyHotel’s owned hotel in Old Street, London, EasyHotel moved its strategy towards investment in freehold owned asset investments. This entailed the purchase by EasyHotel of the 125-bedroom Glasgow hotel in December 2013 for £2.3 million, and the purchase of a 999-year leasehold property of approximately 1,600 square metres of office space in Croydon for approximately £1.6 million. This was opened as a 103-bedroom hotel in autumn 2014.
EasyHotel owns three properties (EasyHotel Croydon, EasyHotel Old Street and EasyHotel Glasgow), and franchises all other hotels to third-party owners and operators.
As of March 2016 the company has 21 operational hotels comprising approximately 1,300 rooms at hotels operated by franchisees and approximately 300 rooms owned by EasyHotel.
Concept
EasyHotel operates in the “Super budget hotel segment”. Offering low prices with the option to pay for extras such as coffee, spare towels, housekeeping, and internet. Rooms are discounted for early bookings, and periods of high demand cost more than less popular periods.[3]
The room concept was developed by EPR Architects during 2004,[4] and undertook the first EasyHotel project in London.[5]
References
- ↑ "Lonrho to open SA's first easyHotel in Johannesburg". Business Day. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
- ↑ "Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou buys £2.3m easyHotel in Glasgow". Caterer and Hotelkeeper. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
- ↑ "EasyHotel, Earl's Court, London: hotel review". Daily Telegraph. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
- ↑ "Update 2004" (PDF). EasyHotel. 2004. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
- ↑ "Easy Hotels". EPR Architects. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
