Page 22 - RLI December 2019 - January 2020

LEONARdO BOUTIqUE BERLIN CITy SOUTH (GERMANy)
Putting Guests at Ease
(c) Leonardo Hotels Central Europe

Leonardo Hotels is the affiliated company of Fattal Hotels,

and Leonardo Hotels Central Europe operates 11,500
rooms across 68 properties. Here, RLI meets Yoram Biton,
Managing Director of Leonardo Hotels Central Europe

to speak about how the European arm has developed and
what the future holds.

LEONARdO MUNICH CITy SOUTH (GERMANy)
(c) Leonardo Hotels Central Europe

LEONARdO ROyAL BERLIN ALEXANdERpLATz (GERMANy)
(c) Leonardo Hotels Central Europe

LEONARdO ROyAL MUNICH (GERMANy) NyX HOTEL BILBAO (SpAIN)
(c) Leonardo Hotels Central Europe (c) Leonardo Hotels Central Europe

eadquartered in Berlin, Leonardo Hotels Central next to Zurich Airport and the Verona branch in Italy will There remains continued growth of 10 per cent year-on- “We look for locations that can be an attractive
Europe is responsible for the hotel portfolio in reopen following a rebranding and renovation period. In year of the brand’s loyalty club members, and Biton believes
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Czech April a new hotel will open its doors in Dortmund, whilst one reason for this is that when Leonardo builds, buys or midweek option for business workers, and also one
H Republic, Hungary, Spain and Italy. The brand family spring will see the launch of the NYX Hotel by Leonardo rebrands a hotel, they have a clear vision of what they want that can attract the leisure seeking guests at weekends;
consists of Leonardo Hotels, Leonardo Royal Hotels, Leonardo Hotels in Warsaw and finally, the Leonardo Royal Hotel in and at the forefront of this vision is the guest, they are put
Boutique Hotels and NYX Hotels by Leonardo Hotels. Barcelona will be taking bookings at the end of the year. at the front of everything and are the main consideration it is all about achieving this unique balance”
Leonardo Hotels Central Europe is part of the Fattal New locations are always being looked for, and at the of every decision made.
Hotel Group, which was founded in 1998 by David Fattal moment southern Europe and particularly Portugal are on “We are planning and designing everything 100 per cent where people can grow in the company and understand
and is one of the fastest growing hotel chains in Europe and the agenda as they do not have a presence there just yet. to the guest’s wishes,” explains Biton. “Also technology wise, the structure of the company and the philosophy behind
Israel and in total operates over 200 hotels with more than Focus is also being given to expanding in Span and Italy. we are developing fast check-in and check-out machines. In Leonardo Hotels,” Biton explains.
40,000 rooms in over 100 destinations and 18 countries. “As for what attracts us to new sites, it depends on the our new NYX Hotel brand, we are developing a lot of new With an eye on the future, the major challenges facing
The past year has been a stable one for the European arm, segments,” explains Yoram Biton, Managing Director of era standards which is helping to attract guests.” the company are the completion of the huge development
considering the challenges in the market and they are continuing Leonard Hotels Central Europe. “We look for locations that Leonardo Hotels is bigger than the sum of its parts; they pipeline which currently exists, and competing in the market
to develop, especially in Germany but also in the surrounding can be an attractive midweek option for business workers, are a professional and international chain with all parts of for the best qualified employees. “However, I am happy to
countries. They are reaching the end of this year having completed and also one that can attract the leisure seeking guests at the business benefitting from other parts. Recently they have say that new managers coming from within the company
their targets, having remained on budget and are also operating weekends; it is all about achieving this unique balance.” created the new E-Commerce & Digital Marketing Team are qualified employees and the right people to guide the
with a six per cent increase over last year’s numbers. It is this balance of business and leisure offerings that has kept department to handle the website and the booking channels. ethos of the company moving forward,” says Biton.
In terms of expansion and redevelopment, the rebranding the group’s hotels attractive and exciting for guests. The targeting Biton feels that well-trained employees are the “In Leonardo, there are no borders for success and no
of the Leonardo Hotel in Rome will be complete by the of both markets has meant that, for example, sites have both company’s number one asset and are as important as the borders for development in all fields. We want to work all
end of this year, whilst in 2020 six new properties will excellent restaurant offerings for business people during the guests and the owners. together and what makes me very happy is seeing employees
open across the year. In February, a new site will open in working week, but are also ideally positioned for the leisure “To assist with building the best possible team, we who gain satisfaction together, which in turn will bring success
Offenbach, Frankfurt, meanwhile in March one will launch crowds who arrive over weekend for global or sports events. have established an academy for our employees, a place to the company in the future,” Biton concludes.

22 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020 DECEMBER 2019 / JANUARY 2020 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL 23