· a&o Florence will have 121 rooms and 470 beds in a prime location within walking distance of the historic city centre.
· The property is a renovation of a former city office building, contributing to a&o Hostels sustainability strategy to convert existing properties into accommodation.
· Core renovation is underway with extensive energy-saving measures planned.
8th June 2023: Leading European hostel chain a&o has announced plans to open their 40th property in spring 2024 within the vibrant heart of Italy’s Tuscany region. Centrally located at the Campo di Marte train station, a&o Florence will offer guests a comfortable and affordable stay within walking distance of the Piazza del Duomo in the historic city centre.
The opening, which will be the 40th European property for Berlin based a&o Hostels, will have 121 rooms and 470 beds and aligns with the company’s initiative to convert existing properties into accommodation. A long-term lease has been signed for a&o Florence and conversion work is underway for the former administrative building at Via Mannelli 119 which had been left vacant for several years. Renovations will preserve the exterior of the building which dates back to 1963.
Oliver Winter, a&o Founder and CEO said: “We are very excited about our latest opening in the heart of one of Europe’s most impressive regions. The property will offer an accommodation experience on the doorstep of incredible culture and historic attractions, appealing to a diverse mix of guests with broad interests.”
Florence is the capital of the famous Tuscany region in Italy and the city is home to authentic dining options, the Arno River, and multiple Renaissance masterpieces of art and architecture. Highlights include the Duomo, Michelangelo’s “David” in the Galleria dell’Accademia, and Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” in the Uffizi Gallery.
Sustainability is at the heart of a&o Hostels operations
a&o Hostels continue to outline expansive sustainability initiatives as part of a wider goal to be Europe’s first net zero emissions hostel chain by 2025, having been the first worldwide to receive an ESG rating of two from the renowned rating agency Sustainable Fitch. Their commitments remain consistent for the planned opening of a&o Florence, with energy-efficient measures including the use of greywater for toilet flushing, central heat recovery to preheat the showers, and self-regulation of the air-conditioning systems by window sensors.
There are also plans to generate electricity using a photovoltaic system on the roof of the five-story building. This will benefit the local neighbourhoods, with surplus generated energy being fed into the public power grid as a municipal contribution.
Speaking on the company’s sustainability strategies, Oliver added: “We will continue to prioritise the optimization of energy efficiency within our buildings, generating electricity exclusively from renewable energy and implementing a&o standards for responsible and sustainable procurement and supply chain. Collaboration with local service providers and producers is also a priority in Florence and we are enjoying a positive collaboration with the city.”
According to recent analysis, the calculated CO2 emissions per a&o guest per night is 3.73 kilograms, almost 80% lower than competitors. Oliver Winter believes that it is possible to reduce CO2 emissions to less than 2.5 kilograms per overnight stay.
Future growth plans
Currently operating with thirty-nine properties across nine European countries, a&o Hostels is the world’s largest hostel chain. With the 40th opening planned for Spring 2024, Oliver Winter says the company are enjoying continued growth in a sustainable way: “We are immensely proud of our expansions in recent years, building on our most successful year to date in 2022 which saw us record 5.55 million overnight stays, surpassing pre-Covid figures.
“We have a vision for at least two new properties every year, growing the company in a responsible and sustainable manner. We are keeping a close eye on the next European cities to expand our presence, including the likes of London, Dublin, and Paris” he added.
