{"id":113695,"date":"2021-09-15T16:25:14","date_gmt":"2021-09-15T14:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.voyages-d-affaires.com\/?p=113695"},"modified":"2023-10-10T11:30:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T09:30:24","slug":"chadha-citizenm-subscription-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.voyages-d-affaires.com\/en\/chadha-citizenm-subscription-projects","title":{"rendered":"Development, subscription, technology: interview with Robin Chadha (CitizenM)"},"content":{"rendered":"

You've just opened your fourth CitizenM in Paris, this one overlooking part of the Champs-Elys\u00e9es. How did this project come about?<\/h3>\n

Robin Chadha -<\/strong> Its development was quite a challenge, since it involved transforming an old office block into two buildings. At first, we weren't quite sure how we were going to go about it. But, when you see the result, it's a very nice hotel<\/a>With beautiful outdoor spaces,<\/strong> including a caf\u00e9 and patio on the first floor and a rooftop on the top floor. As in all the other Citizen M hotels, travellers will find the same facilities, the same technology and a single room type. With 151 keys, it's a small hotel for us, whereas we're used to having establishments with 200 to 300 rooms.<\/p>\n

Is this location a sign that you are now focusing more on leisure than business customers?<\/h3>\n

R. C. - <\/strong>Our main target remains still business travellers<\/strong> who are looking for hotels that are well placed for them and easily accessible, such as those we already offer at CDG airport, at La D\u00e9fense<\/a> and Gare de Lyon station<\/a>. And that's the case with this one too. But being on the Champs-Elys\u00e9es is a special situation for us, because we can also rely on our leisure customers at the weekend.<\/p>\n

\"CitizenM<\/a>
CitizenM Paris Champs-Elysees opened its doors at the beginning of September.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The pandemic has accelerated the deployment of technological solutions, which was already a priority at CitizenM.<\/h3>\n

R. C. -<\/strong> In fact, we were the first to launch a contactless 100% app<\/a>which we have accelerated with the pandemic. It can be used to check in and check out, as well as to check in and check out.open the room<\/strong> and control its atmosphere, as well as consulting the menus and paying for purchases within the establishment. We've also added a description of the artworks installed in the hotel lobbies and a practical guide to the city, with our recommended addresses.<\/p>\n

How did you get through this long and troubled period?<\/h3>\n

R. C. -<\/strong> We haven't closed any of our hotels, because that wouldn't have made sense. We're quite efficient operationally, so we wouldn't really have saved any money by keeping the door closed<\/strong>. We also wanted to keep our staff active. In addition to this, we opened several hotels during the pandemic, notably in Seattle, in Geneva<\/a>, \u00e0 Washington DC<\/a> and so, now in Paris and at the same time in Los Angeles. However, this period has also given us the opportunity to review our strategy and define a new five-year business plan. Covid was a difficult period, but it enabled us to refocus and come out of it stronger in the end. All crises have their advantages. When we opened our first hotel in Amsterdam, it was in 2008, at the height of the financial crisis. And we survived!<\/p>\n

What are the first results of this new strategy?<\/h3>\n

R. C. -<\/strong> We launched a number of new products, including the Global Passport<\/strong> which allows you to stay at any CitizenM, for a few days here and a few days there, for 1,500 euros a month, or 50 euros a day. We've already sold over 200 of them, including to someone who used to live in Zurich and work in Geneva. As a result, he gave up his flat and since then has been sharing his life between the hotels we have in these two cities. For these mobile professionals, we have also combined this offer with services in partnership with local players, in particular for dry cleaning and meal delivery from a selection of the best sushi and pizza restaurants, and so on. Today, based on this initial idea, we're thinking about other things, such as subscription packages<\/strong> for individual travellers, and corporate accounts.<\/p>\n