Airport hotels: lifestyle at the end of the runways

Staying in an airport hotel is not, to be honest, the brightest prospect for nomadic executives. It's often a a must Sometimes it's a stopover forced on them by a meeting that runs over, leaving the last plane to take off without them. Or a stopover forced by the many hazards that disrupt the ballet of planes, such as a volcano spewing its ashes all over Europe, a strike grounding aircraft or an airport blocked by snow.

A little depressing, then, all these transient hotels? Less and less so, given the new concepts now appearing near the major international hubs. CitizenM, Yotel and Pentahotels at Paris CDG, Moxy in Milan Malpensa, Aloft in San Francisco International: at once casual and trendyThe latest establishments to open along the runways stand in stark contrast to their predecessors, which were efficient and functional, but some of which have aged a little.

"Next to airports, travellers often find products that are old and boring. Operators do not feel the need to renovate or innovate, firstly because these establishments are doing very well, and secondly because demand is constantly growing."says Alastair Thomann, Managing Director of Pentahotels.

Urban Resort at Changi Airport

Any generalisation is obviously out of the question. Especially as the brands to which business travellers are most accustomed have also opened a lifestyle page. In Singapore, for example, the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, designed by architects WOHA, is an urban resort within easy reach of the runway. Bathed in light, immersing its one-night guests in the middle of a tropical jungle, this establishment was voted "Best Urban Resort" by the Singaporean media. best airport hotel in the world by Skytrax, a consultancy company whose rankings are a benchmark in the airline industry. Building on its success, the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport strengthened its business identity last summer by opening a new wing featuring 243 Business Rooms with king-size offices.

In Europe, two chain establishments inaugurated at the end of 2015 have also demonstrated a very contemporary approach to airport hotels. With its geometric façade and vast lobby, the Hilton Amsterdam Schiphol offers "an experiment of a new kind"The Pullman CDG Airport was designed by Rob Palleschi, Managing Director of the Hilton Worldwide brands. Similarly, the Pullman CDG Airport, with its luminous spaces and clear lines, was designed by architect-designer Christophe Pillet around the concepts of pleasure and relaxation.

But alongside these big names, the lifestyle change The airport hotel market is being driven by a number of new ideas that have recently appeared on the radar of the world's major hubs. CitizenM is a perfect example, and probably even the most emblematic, since it was at Amsterdam Schiphol that this brand took its first steps in 2008, before becoming one of the world's benchmarks for trendy accommodation at low prices.

iMac and model aircraft

Present in the heart of London and New York, and soon to open in Paris in the La Défense district and near the Gare de Lyon, the brand also landed at Roissy in 2015. Right from the entrance, a red swing bench sets the tone for a cheerful, friendly hotel, where mobile executives can set up in the lobby to work on long wooden tables equipped with iMac and all the necessary connectivity. Further on, library corners decorated with model aircraft and design objects are ideal for informal business meetings.

The Pentahotel Paris CDG, inaugurated at the end of 2016, is in the same vein. "The design concept we have created, with its 'living room' atmosphere, elevates the experience of an airport hotel."says Alastair Thomann. Spaces crammed with Chesterfield armchairs, mismatched furniture that looks as if it's been hunted down, meeting rooms vintage trendIt's a very lofty, very young spirit that runs through the hotel, reinforced by staff in jeans and Diesel t-shirts, Pentahotels' partner.

Among all the rooms, one category, the Penta Plus, stands out for its playful, old-school feel. In this sort of junior suite, the sitting area and sofa have been replaced by a pinball machine or table football. Little madeleines for a whole generation of managers who, according to Sandrine Esnault, the hotel's Business Development Director, "... have a lot of fun in the Penta Plus.spent hours playing it after school"This is the perfect way for them to relax in the privacy of their own bedroom, in the midst of a hectic day.

Like their customers, airport hotels live to the rhythm of professional agendasIt's the perfect place to take a break in the evening. "Generally speaking, our customers arrive between 7 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. and leave the next day between 7.30 a.m. and 9 a.m., depending on their flight schedule."says Alastair Thomann. At reception, departing travellers regularly come across those who have just got off a long-haul flight and have booked a day room so that they can shower before their first appointment.

While some hotels are quiet between these morning and evening rushes, those located closest to the terminals are almost non-stop. The bar at the Sheraton Paris Airport, with its hushed atmosphere, is constantly buzzing with business travellers. Around tables cluttered with suitcases, some are working in their corner to put the finishing touches to their presentation before boarding, while others are listening to their manager define the key points of the trip that awaits them on the other side of the Atlantic. Still others are only there the time of a meeting. "As well as being an air hub, Paris CDG is also a major rail hub with its TGV station. It is therefore an ideal meeting pointexplains Jan Nielsen, General Manager of the Sheraton Paris Airport. A manager coming from the United States can easily find his colleagues there, some living in Paris, others coming from Lyon or Marseille, and who will be leaving again in the evening."

This non-stop activity means that airport hotels have a number of special features, starting with highly functional items such as blackout curtains so you can sleep even in broad daylight, and perfectly soundproofed rooms. Rates are also tailored to travellers' needs. Many hotels offer daily reservations, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or over a 24-hour period, like the Moxy Malpensa with its "All Day, All Night" package. Some hotels also offer practical services for business travellers. The Sofitel Gatwick, for example, offers tailor-made packages including one night's accommodation, secure parking for a period of 4 to 15 days, fast passage through security checks via the Premium Security Lane and access to the airport's "N°1" lounges.

Immediate boarding

This hotel adds a decisive element for travellers in a hurry: it is directly linked to London Gatwick's North Terminal. Visit as close as possible to the boarding gates can save its customers precious minutes compared with other establishments scattered around the airport and linked to the departure halls by a noria of minibuses. In the same way, the Sheraton Paris Airport, nestled in the middle of the terminals of terminal 2E at Roissy CDG, allows its customers to "enjoy the best of both worlds".arrive at the hotel pushing their luggage trolleys"explains Jan Nielsen.

Virtually every brand can boast fine 'contact' hotels, to use the jargon of the airline world. The Sheraton at Paris CDG, but also in Brussels, Amsterdam and Milan, are ideally placed, as is the Sofitel at Heathrow and the Radisson Blu at Moscow Sheremetyevo. Hilton, the first group to enter the airport hotel business with the opening of the Hilton San Francisco International in 1959, is also adding to its collection of hotels at major global hubs with the recent acquisition of the former Kempinski Munich Airport, an glass cathedral designed by architect Helmut Jahn.

As air travel continues to expand, the competition between the world's major hubs requires an enhanced hotel offering. Both to satisfy their loyal customers and to attract new passengers, airport operators need to offer increasingly diversified accommodation solutions. The ADP group will increase the number of rooms on offer at Roissy from 1,700 in 2010 to 3,700 by 2018, while accommodation capacity at Orly will rise by 43 %. This strong growth is also due to the development of the new Roissypôle and Cœur d'Orly business districts near these airports.

However, even more than their surroundings, it is within the terminals themselves that the game is played. the sinews of warThe Dubai International Hotel, with its 469 rooms and 61 suites, is helping to make the hub a key gateway between Europe and Asia or Australia. The Dubai International Hotel, with its 469 rooms and 61 suites, is designed to welcome travellers on long stopovers, helping to make the hub a key gateway between Europe and Asia or Australia. With the same objective of offering a bed for a few hours to travellers with long connecting flights, the YotelAir brand opened its doors in June at the Dubai International Hotel. lounge Instant Paris at Roissy CDG. Launched in 2006 at Amsterdam Schiphol, London Heathrow and Gatwick, the brand is a world away from Dubai-style luxury. The rooms are only 9 m2 in size, but they are extremely comfortable, with a high-tech approach and a refined design. Miniature but lifestyle, as the zeitgeist demands.