On 8th October at ESADEFORUM, the ESADE Alumni Business Angels Club hosted a round table entitled ‘Tourism and the Creation of Companies and Opportunities in the Urban Low-Cost Hotel Sector’. Entrepreneurs and investors shared their opinions and experiences from the field.
Manuel Matés, the founder and Vice President of the Business Angels Club, opened the session by introducing the speakers. ‘We have brought together both entrepreneurs and investors from the urban low-cost hotel industry in order to contrast their points of view and take a broader look at this topic,’ he said, before giving the floor to Hugo Bertrand, a founding partner at the low-cost hotel chain Chic&Basic. According to Mr. Bertrand, the chain was created in 2002 in response to a personal need: ‘We found a market niche in the sector: designer hotels at an affordable price. Low-cost airlines have democratised travel, and companies such as IKEA have made design accessible to the masses. Now, we want to continue enjoying affordable design while we travel.’ Albert Montesinos, the co-founder of Chic&Basic, explained the company’s approach: ‘We have gone about acquiring horribly decorated hotels and hostels and giving them their own personality, in line with the Chic&Basic style. We’ve done this with our target customers in mind, who we define as CSP - curious, sensible and practical. They are people who don’t want to spend too much on accommodation, but also don’t want to give up comfort and design in their rooms.’
Strengths and threats in the sector
The next speaker was Àlex Serra, a founding partner of Gat Rooms, another low-cost hotel chain. ‘The idea behind Gat Rooms is the luxury of staying in the very centre of a city like Barcelona for very little money,’ he said. ‘We find old hostels and we remodel them and provide the services customers need to feel comfortable. We avoid unnecessary luxuries that do nothing but make the product more expensive. We’re no longer in the low-cost era, but rather the era of paying for things in an intelligent manner.’ Iván Saldaña, Financial Director of Gat Rooms, provided some economic context and discussed some of the main barriers that prevent small business owners from entering the sector. ‘The worst thing for a small business owner is the lack of money,’ he said. ‘A large hotel group can buy as many buildings as it wants, but a small chain like this one cannot. Moreover, properties in Spain are too expensive, and we have had to consider opening new establishments in other cities, such as Berlin, Paris and Lisbon, since it is practically impossible to buy a building in Madrid or Barcelona.’
The last speaker was Elena Carrera, Investment Director of Riva y García and conseiller of Equity Point Hostels, a chain of low-cost youth hostels that achieves high profitability by managing, rather than purchasing, buildings. ‘The barriers that prevent entrepreneurs from entering the youth hostel sector are legislation, property financing, other people’s lack of familiarity with the sector, and dependence on the real-estate sector,’ she said. ‘However, there are also many advantages for entrepreneurs like us. For example, it is an unknown sector, with very little competition from other professionals. We also have many opportunities to create a global brand, especially if we consider that young people - that is, our target customers - account for 20 percent of tourism worldwide.’
After all of the speakers had finished, they took questions from the audience and engaged in a lively debate.
Programme:
The ESADE Alumni Business Angels Club would like to invite you to this round table, which will take place on 8th October, from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm, at ESADEFORUM (Avenida de Pedralbes, 60-62, Barcelona). The VII CEIE Forum for Entrepreneurs and Investors will be held following the event, from 7.15 pm to 9.00 pm.
The "limited services" urban hotel sector has various pioneering initiatives to offer in Catalonia. To find out more about this sector we have invited the founders of the following companies to give us an in-depth account of their business experiences and an up-to-date vision of what is currently a highly dynamic market environment:
- Investors who want to find out more about the sector with a view to expanding their portfolio;
- Owners of properties that may be suitable for use in the hotel industry;
- Entrepreneurs interested in the sector;
- Professionals involved in the sector.
We would like to remember you that the VII CEIE Forum for Entrepreneurs and Investors will also be held in the ESADEFORUM amphitheatre following the round table event.
If you are also interested in registering for the Forum, we would appreciate you registering as soon as possible.
Seating capacity is limited and registration will be carried out in strict order of receipt. If you are not already a CEIE member you can fill in an membership application form here. The CEIE reserves the right to refuse admission.
On 8th October at ESADEFORUM, the ESADE Alumni Business Angels Club hosted a round table entitled ‘Tourism and the Creation of Companies and Opportunities in the Urban Low-Cost Hotel Sector’. Entrepreneurs and investors shared their opinions and experiences from the field.
Manuel Matés, the founder and Vice President of the Business Angels Club, opened the session by introducing the speakers. ‘We have brought together both entrepreneurs and investors from the urban low-cost hotel industry in order to contrast their points of view and take a broader look at this topic,’ he said, before giving the floor to Hugo Bertrand, a founding partner at the low-cost hotel chain Chic&Basic. According to Mr. Bertrand, the chain was created in 2002 in response to a personal need: ‘We found a market niche in the sector: designer hotels at an affordable price. Low-cost airlines have democratised travel, and companies such as IKEA have made design accessible to the masses. Now, we want to continue enjoying affordable design while we travel.’ Albert Montesinos, the co-founder of Chic&Basic, explained the company’s approach: ‘We have gone about acquiring horribly decorated hotels and hostels and giving them their own personality, in line with the Chic&Basic style. We’ve done this with our target customers in mind, who we define as CSP - curious, sensible and practical. They are people who don’t want to spend too much on accommodation, but also don’t want to give up comfort and design in their rooms.’
Strengths and threats in the sector
The next speaker was Àlex Serra, a founding partner of Gat Rooms, another low-cost hotel chain. ‘The idea behind Gat Rooms is the luxury of staying in the very centre of a city like Barcelona for very little money,’ he said. ‘We find old hostels and we remodel them and provide the services customers need to feel comfortable. We avoid unnecessary luxuries that do nothing but make the product more expensive. We’re no longer in the low-cost era, but rather the era of paying for things in an intelligent manner.’ Iván Saldaña, Financial Director of Gat Rooms, provided some economic context and discussed some of the main barriers that prevent small business owners from entering the sector. ‘The worst thing for a small business owner is the lack of money,’ he said. ‘A large hotel group can buy as many buildings as it wants, but a small chain like this one cannot. Moreover, properties in Spain are too expensive, and we have had to consider opening new establishments in other cities, such as Berlin, Paris and Lisbon, since it is practically impossible to buy a building in Madrid or Barcelona.’
The last speaker was Elena Carrera, Investment Director of Riva y García and conseiller of Equity Point Hostels, a chain of low-cost youth hostels that achieves high profitability by managing, rather than purchasing, buildings. ‘The barriers that prevent entrepreneurs from entering the youth hostel sector are legislation, property financing, other people’s lack of familiarity with the sector, and dependence on the real-estate sector,’ she said. ‘However, there are also many advantages for entrepreneurs like us. For example, it is an unknown sector, with very little competition from other professionals. We also have many opportunities to create a global brand, especially if we consider that young people - that is, our target customers - account for 20 percent of tourism worldwide.’
After all of the speakers had finished, they took questions from the audience and engaged in a lively debate.
Programme:
The ESADE Alumni Business Angels Club would like to invite you to this round table, which will take place on 8th October, from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm, at ESADEFORUM (Avenida de Pedralbes, 60-62, Barcelona). The VII CEIE Forum for Entrepreneurs and Investors will be held following the event, from 7.15 pm to 9.00 pm.
The "limited services" urban hotel sector has various pioneering initiatives to offer in Catalonia. To find out more about this sector we have invited the founders of the following companies to give us an in-depth account of their business experiences and an up-to-date vision of what is currently a highly dynamic market environment:
- Investors who want to find out more about the sector with a view to expanding their portfolio;
- Owners of properties that may be suitable for use in the hotel industry;
- Entrepreneurs interested in the sector;
- Professionals involved in the sector.
We would like to remember you that the VII CEIE Forum for Entrepreneurs and Investors will also be held in the ESADEFORUM amphitheatre following the round table event.
If you are also interested in registering for the Forum, we would appreciate you registering as soon as possible.
Seating capacity is limited and registration will be carried out in strict order of receipt. If you are not already a CEIE member you can fill in an membership application form here. The CEIE reserves the right to refuse admission.
On 8th October at ESADEFORUM, the ESADE Alumni Business Angels Club hosted a round table entitled ‘Tourism and the Creation of Companies and Opportunities in the Urban Low-Cost Hotel Sector’. Entrepreneurs and investors shared their opinions and experiences from the field.
Manuel Matés, the founder and Vice President of the Business Angels Club, opened the session by introducing the speakers. ‘We have brought together both entrepreneurs and investors from the urban low-cost hotel industry in order to contrast their points of view and take a broader look at this topic,’ he said, before giving the floor to Hugo Bertrand, a founding partner at the low-cost hotel chain Chic&Basic. According to Mr. Bertrand, the chain was created in 2002 in response to a personal need: ‘We found a market niche in the sector: designer hotels at an affordable price. Low-cost airlines have democratised travel, and companies such as IKEA have made design accessible to the masses. Now, we want to continue enjoying affordable design while we travel.’ Albert Montesinos, the co-founder of Chic&Basic, explained the company’s approach: ‘We have gone about acquiring horribly decorated hotels and hostels and giving them their own personality, in line with the Chic&Basic style. We’ve done this with our target customers in mind, who we define as CSP - curious, sensible and practical. They are people who don’t want to spend too much on accommodation, but also don’t want to give up comfort and design in their rooms.’
Strengths and threats in the sector
The next speaker was Àlex Serra, a founding partner of Gat Rooms, another low-cost hotel chain. ‘The idea behind Gat Rooms is the luxury of staying in the very centre of a city like Barcelona for very little money,’ he said. ‘We find old hostels and we remodel them and provide the services customers need to feel comfortable. We avoid unnecessary luxuries that do nothing but make the product more expensive. We’re no longer in the low-cost era, but rather the era of paying for things in an intelligent manner.’ Iván Saldaña, Financial Director of Gat Rooms, provided some economic context and discussed some of the main barriers that prevent small business owners from entering the sector. ‘The worst thing for a small business owner is the lack of money,’ he said. ‘A large hotel group can buy as many buildings as it wants, but a small chain like this one cannot. Moreover, properties in Spain are too expensive, and we have had to consider opening new establishments in other cities, such as Berlin, Paris and Lisbon, since it is practically impossible to buy a building in Madrid or Barcelona.’
The last speaker was Elena Carrera, Investment Director of Riva y García and conseiller of Equity Point Hostels, a chain of low-cost youth hostels that achieves high profitability by managing, rather than purchasing, buildings. ‘The barriers that prevent entrepreneurs from entering the youth hostel sector are legislation, property financing, other people’s lack of familiarity with the sector, and dependence on the real-estate sector,’ she said. ‘However, there are also many advantages for entrepreneurs like us. For example, it is an unknown sector, with very little competition from other professionals. We also have many opportunities to create a global brand, especially if we consider that young people - that is, our target customers - account for 20 percent of tourism worldwide.’
After all of the speakers had finished, they took questions from the audience and engaged in a lively debate.
Programme:
The ESADE Alumni Business Angels Club would like to invite you to this round table, which will take place on 8th October, from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm, at ESADEFORUM (Avenida de Pedralbes, 60-62, Barcelona). The VII CEIE Forum for Entrepreneurs and Investors will be held following the event, from 7.15 pm to 9.00 pm.
The "limited services" urban hotel sector has various pioneering initiatives to offer in Catalonia. To find out more about this sector we have invited the founders of the following companies to give us an in-depth account of their business experiences and an up-to-date vision of what is currently a highly dynamic market environment:
- Investors who want to find out more about the sector with a view to expanding their portfolio;
- Owners of properties that may be suitable for use in the hotel industry;
- Entrepreneurs interested in the sector;
- Professionals involved in the sector.
We would like to remember you that the VII CEIE Forum for Entrepreneurs and Investors will also be held in the ESADEFORUM amphitheatre following the round table event.
If you are also interested in registering for the Forum, we would appreciate you registering as soon as possible.
Seating capacity is limited and registration will be carried out in strict order of receipt. If you are not already a CEIE member you can fill in an membership application form here. The CEIE reserves the right to refuse admission.
