Sold out almost from the moment it opened. Few hotels can boast such an impressive opening. L'Eklo Paris Porte de VersaillesYes, it is. Its situation right next to hall 3 of the exhibition centre Paris made it an ideal base for the Salon de l'Agriculture. And the same should undoubtedly be true of the next major events to be held on the ViparisThe hotel is preparing to welcome a number of gendarmerie officers as guests during the forthcoming Olympic Games.
The opening of the brand's new flagship store Eklowith its 304 rooms and 750 beds, is part of the company's commitment to Viparisthe owner of the establishment, to propose a diverse range of hotels on the grounds of Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. After lifestyle with Mama Shelter and classical music with Novotel - two hotels to be inaugurated at the end of 2019 - the Eklo brand will add its approach to the hotel business, which is both economical and ecological aimed at business travellers and visiting holidaymakers. For these customers, it offers a hybrid mix of single, double and family rooms, as well as six-person dormitories - with an integrated bathroom - that can be sold by the bed or privatised.
" At the time of the call for tenders in 2019, we were up against the likes of Accor, B&B Hotels and IHG. I would like to thank Viparis for having placed their trust in us, even though we only had three hotels in operation at the time. "says Emmanuel Petit, founder of Eklo. This former Accor Group executive embarked on his adventure in 2014 with the idea of offering a budget hotel that was both more "affordable" and more "affordable". user-friendlymore designbut also more manager. The hotel group is also one of the most committed players in terms of CSR, posting an overall rating of A for its environmental label.
This spirit, reflected in the 11 establishments of the brand, notably those opened last year in Paris CDG and the Montpellier stationinfuses this new flagship built to low-carbon standards. At the same time, Eklo Paris Porte de Versailles is coming to Paris with its festive venue French Kissa new restaurant concept recently launched in Montpellier.
Crowning its ninth and top floor, this guinguette-style bar-restaurant plays on a short menu, using seasonal and locally sourced produce, and exclusively French cocktails and spirits. Regular entertainment gives the place a festive feel, with live music, stand-ups, blind tests and karaoke. Offering 200 seatsFrench Kiss is open to the outside world in both senses of the word. Firstly, with its rooftop terrace overlooking Paris, but also with its desire to attract a local clientele, both local residents and visitors to the exhibition centre.
While this concept is due to be rolled out in other Eklo establishments, notably in Toulouse and Bordeaux, the brand is also planning to extend a new offering at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre, namely meeting rooms. The Parisian hotel is ideally located for business trips, with two rooms on the 1st floor that can accommodate up to 80 people. In addition, companies can hire the bar-restaurant and rooftop for events.
After Paris, the Eklo Bordeaux is also set to offer meeting space as part of an extension to the hotel, which will also see the opening of a new conference centre.addition of 80 rooms by 2025. " We realised that if we didn't have any, we were closing ourselves off to the rest of the world. seminar customers while we had requestsexplains Emmanuel Petit. This is an offering that we intend to develop elsewhere." .
Especially as Eklo, which recently raised €35 million, intends to strengthen its network in France with a dozen new hotels expected by 2028. These include advanced projects in Marseille and Nantes and others planned for the Paris region. Emmanuel Petit's stated aim is to reach the 40 hotels in France and why not internationally within ten years?.
