Paris – 30 January 2017
It will be a new landmark for NewGen hotel concepts in Europa – In 2018, the next 25hours hotel will open in Paris. The 236-key luxury design hotel will be located in 10th arrondissement of Frech capital near Gare du Nord.
The stately building on the forecourt of the Gare du Nord was constructed in the 1860s, shortly after the station opened, and is currently operated as a Mercure hotel. The restaurants and shops at street level will remain unaffected following the change in operator. The hotel has 236 rooms and will be completely renovated in two stages by the local architectural practice, Axel Schönert Architects, starting in spring 2017. The first 141 rooms of 25hours Hotel Terminus Nord and large sections of its public areas are expected to open in summer 2018. The completion of the entire hotel, restaurant and bar is scheduled for spring 2019.
Xavi Vega has been appointed General Manager of the Paris hotel and has already started
work. The native Spaniard will support the hotel and its existing team throughout the entire renovation process, in order to become the local 25hours brand ambassador. Vega holds a Masters in Hotel Management from Escuela de Administración de Empresas (Barcelona) and has several years’ experience as General Manager of various luxury and design hotels all over the world. Thanks to his many years’ professional experience in France and Belgium he speaks fluent French, and is more than familiar with Paris. He most recently managed the Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort in Costa Rica.
“The staggered conversion while the hotel remains open for business is of course a challenge. However, our Vienna hotel has already shown that this can also give rise to rather creative pop-up concepts. In any event, guests will enjoy an all-round 25hours experience from day one,” said 25hours CEO, Christoph Hoffmann.
The Augsburg-based creative agency, Dreimeta, is responsible for designing the Paris hotel. The team is close friends of 25hours and has already supported several projects since the first hotel opened in Hamburg in 2003. In Paris, they will be working with the French art curators and storytellers, Visto Images. Co-Founder, Alex Toledano, is an expert in the hotel’s location in the up-and-coming 10th arrondissement, having completed his dissertation on the neighbourhood’s people and history. Together, the teams will work on a kaleidoscope of Parisian history and partnerships, the hotel’s immediate surroundings and the comings and goings of Europe’s busiest train station. “The Parisian 25hours Hotel will be colourful, romantic and extremely diverse. The building has many nooks and crannies and a certain instant charm, with its many hidden corners and niches,” explained Chief Brand Officer, Bruno Marti.