"Hungary's first budget hotel has been opened by easyHotel.com in Budapest on Wednesday. Budapest represents the third major city that the easyHotel operates in, following the opening of hotels in London and Basel.The hotel, offering 59 bedrooms, is situated in Eötvös utca in the 6th district, near Oktogon and close to the UNESCO world heritage site, Andrássy Street, an array of restaurants and attractions.
Restoration of the nearly 100-year-old period building started in October 2006 and cost the company HUF 200 million.
The rooms are available in two sizes; small rooms are 7.5-10 sqm, and standard rooms are 10-13 sqm. All rooms have a tiltable window for fresh air, one double bed, a nightstand and en-suite bathroom with shower. The building is secured with guest-only access and includes on-site luggage storage. There are also two rooms suitable for disabled use. For an additional fee, TV and cable Internet can also be used in the room.
The five-storey hotel has total area of 1600 sqm.
“Relying entirely on web bookings to generate sales, easyHotel.com pioneered the super-budget hotel concept, which sees unnecessary frills stripped away - leaving guests with a reliable, safe, stylish, cool city-centre crash pad at unbeatable prices," the company said in a press release.
Over the next three years the operator has ambitious plans to open up to 60 new hotels in prime city locations across the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
“Budapest is one of Europe's prime city destinations, and plays a key part in our expansion strategy," said Lawrence Alexander, easyHotel.com CEO, at the opening ceremony.
“We're delighted to introduce a new concept to the Hungarian hotel market," said Richard Lloyd, General Manager at easyHotel.com Budapest Oktogon.
The easyGroup, the holding company controlling the “easy" ventures, was founded in 1998 and is privately owned by Stelios Haji-Ioannou, a Greek-Cypriot born British entrepreneur. Stelios created no frills airline easyJet in 1995, starting flights between Luton and Scotland. "
Source:
Portfolio Online Financial Journal
04.10.2007