Room Mate Hotels, unstoppable in its expansion in Europe, opens to the swiss market

Room Mate Hotels continues with its ambitious expansion plan, strengthening its presence in the European market with the addition of the Hôtel Marmont, in Geneva (Switzerland). Located in one of the most exclusive areas of the city, next to the prestigious Rue du Rhône, surrounded by the most exclusive stores and just a few meters from the emblematic Lake Geneva, it has 104 rooms and offers unparalleled access to the financial district, international institutions and the vibrant cultural life of the city. Since the acquisition of Room Mate Hotels in 2022 by its new shareholders, the chain has significantly strengthened its financial position and renewed its portfolio through an equity investment program in several hotels. With this latest purchase, the company continues its selective international expansion through new strategic acquisitions, new leases and hotel management agreements.

Dominic Seely, Room Mate Hotels' Director of Development and Acquisitions, said: “With its very high barriers to entry, Geneva is a further milestone in our journey. The Room Mate brand prides itself on having so many AAA locations and this hotel is no exception. We continue to partner with institutional landlords such as Axa Real Estate, BNP Paribas, Generali, Grosvenor, Investire SGR, Prelios SGR, and others, who value not only our business model, but also the strength of our brand.”

To which Kike Sarasola adds: “This is a great milestone for Room Mate and we are very happy with the arrival in Switzerland, one of the world's top tourist destinations and a beautiful country. The property will be completely renovated in 2025 and relaunched under the Room Mate brand in early 2026.”

This new addition is in addition to the recent purchase of the Staying Valencia chain, with twelve assets in the city such as Helen Berger, Oliveira or Cosmo, among others. All are located in the city center, in line with Room Mate Hotels' positioning in other key destinations such as Venice, with the recent opening of Palazzo Dei Fiori (16 apartments from 1 to 5 rooms), designed by Teresa Sapey; or in the United Kingdom, London, with the boutique hotel Lime Tree, located in the Belgravia area or the new Room Mate Mia, which will open its doors in Rome on April 10.

In addition, during 2024, the company has allocated almost 10 million euros in the renovation and improvement of several hotels, with the aim of offering the best experience for its customers. Among the refurbished projects are Room Mate Aitana (285 rooms) in Amsterdam, Room Mate Luca (55 rooms) and Isabella Room Mate Collection (22 rooms) both in Florence; and Room Mate Leo (67 rooms) in Granada.

In the words of Kike Sarasola: “We continue to expand intelligently and judiciously, investing in strategic destinations and strengthening our brand in Europe. Room Mate Hotels' growth is the result of our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction”

FINANCIAL STRENGTH AND PROSPECTS FOR 2025

Room Mate Hotels ends 2024 with a solid financial position, and predicts a record 2025, estimating to reach 151.8 million euros and the opening of new hotels, including its second hotel in Rome, the new Room Mate Mía.

The chain faces the future with optimism, confident in its business model and its ability to offer unique experiences to its guests. “Room Mate continues to be a leading chain. We want to expand in strategic cities in Europe, such as Lisbon or Paris, as well as explore new markets, such as Germany, and continue to grow in destinations where we are already strong, through the purchase, rental or management of hotels or hotel chains. All of this with a clear vision: to consolidate our growth in a sustainable way, to continue innovating in the hotel sector and to guarantee unforgettable experiences for our clients in each destination,” concludes Kike Sarasola.

In addition, Room Mate reinforces its position as one of the urban chains best rated by users with 90.5% according to ReviewPro (official source of hotel reputation). The main nationalities staying at Room Mate Hotels are Americans (14.79%), Spaniards (8.72%), Dutch (8.60%) and British (8.25%). These results reflect the success of its management and the dynamism of the tourism sector.

MARKET TRENDS AND EXPANSION

Room Mate Hotels' growth is framed by a dynamic and constantly evolving hotel market. In 2024, the company has welcomed more than 1.22 million visitors, with an average stay of 2.5 nights and a total occupancy rate of more than 86%.

In this regard, Italy and Spain are positioned as the strongest markets for the chain. Both countries are performing exceptionally well, with a significant increase in demand. In Spain, Madrid is leading growth. In addition, cities such as Barcelona, Valencia and Malaga continue to perform positively.

On the other hand, the United Kingdom, with Lime Tree in London, is consolidating its position as another key market for the company, thanks to strategic management and the revitalization of the sector.

In Northern Europe, the Netherlands has suffered a slight slowdown due to rising costs and inflation, which has moderated the pace of expansion, although the region continues to perform positively. On the other hand, emerging markets such as Istanbul (Turkey) continue to face challenges linked to the currency situation.

ABOUT ROOM MATE HOTELS

Is a hotel chain with a global and international vision founded in Spain in 2005 by the renowned entrepreneur Kike Sarasola, whose philosophy is to consider that the best way to travel is to visit friends in each city, friends whose lifestyle we share and who transmit their knowledge and experiences of the city taking us by the hand through it.

Room Mate Hotels has 33 hotels and more than 2,300 rooms in 6 countries and 15 cities, following the recent acquisition of Staying Valencia to its portfolio. Its philosophy is to conceive hotels as “homes” that open their doors to travelers who come to the city looking for comfort, warmth and the welcoming spirit offered by its great team, human and professional, to its guests.

In Room Mate Hotels, design plays a crucial role. Renowned designers such as Patricia Urquiola, Lázaro Rosa Violán, Tomás Alía, Lorenzo Castillo, Pascua Ortega and Teresa Sapey, among others, have been responsible for the design of the establishments around the world.