UK: Lifestyle aparthotel brand Native Places has announced plans to open five new properties within the next two years.
The expansion will see Native Places open an additional property in London, bringing the total to four design-led aparthotels in the capital city. Other new destinations include Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, with Oxford all under consideration.
Native’s current portfolio includes six properties across London, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. In Q4 2023, Native will be launching its seventh aparthotel – The King’s Wardrobe, once a storehouse for the King’s state and ceremonial robes, will rebrand as Native King’s Wardrobe, St Paul’s.
Native says it has seen revenue up by four per cent more than predicted in 2022 with direct bookings up 24.2 per cent compared with 2021. Average length of stay in 2022 went up from 1.5 days to 2.5 to three days.
Olivia Immesi, managing director at Native Places, said: “This is a very exciting time for Native Places as we expand operations further across the UK. The future of aparthotels worldwide, and in particular in the UK, is significant. We are seeing a pent-up demand for extended stays and it is our mission to provide travellers with a more integrated home from home experience that offers the freedom and flexibility when our guests are travelling for work or hoping to relax in a larger space, during a long-term stay.”
Native Places is working towards the goal of becoming a B-Corp listed company as it consciously works to reduce its carbon emissions and build a green brand within the extended stay sector.
“We want to give our guests a story worth sharing, whether it’s about historical architecture, interesting design or a fascinating local community – we believe the best stories are found in the people and places we meet and experience. That’s why for each Native property, we celebrate the heritage of the building and we encourage our guests to live like a local and meet the creatives at the heart of the community,” said Immesi.
As part of its expansion plans, Native Places is also focusing on adding significant value to its aparthotel portfolio by developing both convenient and experiential F&B concepts to match the evolving consumption habits of its guests. This follows the company’s performance for F&B in 2022 achieving 12 per cent above budgeted revenues.
“Looking forward we are placing greater investment to boost the value of a stay with us in order to attract the newer generation of guest. It is imperative for aparthotel and hotel brands to adapt and engage guests with F&B concepts that offer both convenience and experience, especially in response to the rise of food ordering apps,” said Immesi.
