Embodying a new generation of urban residences, Edgar Suites continues to expand in the Paris region. After transforming the former headquarters of the Paris Bar Association - the Hôtel de la Porte, dating back to the seventeenth century - into a lifestyle aparthotel, Edgar Suites has now opened a new residence in the Paris region.e century - last year, this group founded in 2016 has just added a new address in the Abesses district. In this authentic Montmartre, with its small cafés and friendly restaurants, far from the kitsch of Place du Tertre and yet at the foot of the hill.
Located on rue Paul Albert, the Résidence Montmartre comprises 11 Urban Suites ranging from 25m² to 60m² with top-of-the-range bedding, fully-equipped kitchens and cosy living rooms. These spaces are perfect for groups, families or friends, but also for for business travellers looking for space for longer stays, particularly colleagues who appreciate sharing a large flat.
But there are also a growing number of people who go away for long weekends, combining teleworking with a visit to the city, and extending a business trip with a family weekend. It's a hybrid clientele that Edgar Suites can count on, and one that will discover an establishment in Montmartre that's right at home in its neighbourhood. " We have chosen to working as a neighbour with a number of craftsmen and artists, black-and-white photos of Montmartre from the Little Big Galerie a few streets away, a cabinetmaker for the television frames, etc." says Xavier O'Quin, one of the three co-founders of Edgar Suites along with Grégoire and Maxime Benoit, the group's artistic director, who points out that the fabrics and tapestries also come from nearby, from the famous Saint-Pierre market.
Minted furniture, salvaged Art Deco consoles, refurbished 60s light fittings: these are just some of the urban suites with vintage and contemporary decor are taking their place in what was once the Montmartre mon Amour hotel, formerly owned by the Maranatha group. This mid-range establishment with around thirty rooms has been completely rethought and redesigned. In some cases, two former 13 m² rooms have been transformed into a large suite with kitchenette. More generally, several smaller rooms have been converted into two-bedroom flats - each with its own bathroom - organised around a living-dining room.
" In France - and in Paris in particular - there is a forest of hotels that are too small, with around thirty rooms, but which we can make economic sense of by operating them in a different way. It's all about urban recycling." explains Xavier O'Quin. As well as hotels that are a little tired, Edgar Suites also likes to breathe new life into the old. office buildings at the end of the cycleThis is illustrated by the transformation currently underway at the headquarters of clothing brand Caroll in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.e Paris arrondissement, right next to the Porte de Versailles. Another project under way is the renovation of another business building in Levallois, on rue Anatole France, which will become a residence with 26 flats in the next year or so.
" We are increasingly present in Paris and the inner suburbs, with projects not only in Levallois, but also in Clichy and Saint-Ouen." says Grégoire Benoît, Director of Operations at Edgar Suites. While the group has 26 residences in operation for 600 urban suites, it is also expanding into major provincial cities. It already has two residences in Bordeaux, and projects are under way in Lille and Cannes, with the transformation of the former Hôtel de France on Rue d'Antibes into a 10-apartment aparthotel.
" Our aim is to have a minimum presence in a dozen major cities in France. We are working on new cities, such as Nice, where we are in discussions, and Lyon, where we would like to have our first building." he explains. And abroad? " We could come back to this at a later date, but for the moment, there's a lot to be done in France." says Grégoire Benoît.
Particularly as this looks set to be a buoyant period for the business. During the Rugby World Cup, Parisian residences were able to test their appeal to companies working on the event. Olympic Games are already on the horizon. " We have already rented out almost 80% of our facilities to sponsors and their employees, to international federations for their staff or athletes' families, and to journalists covering the event." says the Edgar Suites Operations Manager. All of which means that we can be sure of a good occupancy rate. The Résidence Montmartre - Paul Albert already boasts an occupancy rate of over 90%. Just two months after opening. The average occupancy rate for other establishments...
