Just because you do not have or do not want to spend big bucks on a hotel room does not mean you must stay home. Savvy travelers are learning that terrific accommodations can be scored by accessing the Meininger brand. It may be hard to believe, but a frugal traveler can get a single room at a Queens Gate location in London for 120 Euros per night (January). If you are ok sharing (with strangers), dormitory accommodations (shared bath) can be reserved for approximately 22 Euros per night.
No – the hotel group is not frequented by “little ladies of the night,” and no – the lobby does not have the “most wanted” posters on the wall; the global hotel brand is Meininger Hotels with approximately 16 hotels in 10 European (and 1 American) cities and growing.
Meininger is a subsidiary of Holidaybreak Ltd., the European Education and Leisure travel group that is a subsidiary of Prometheon Holdings (UK) Ltd., part of Cox & Kings Ltd. Cox & Kings Ltd., and is listed on the National Stock Exchange, the BSE Ltd and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The organization has all the correct credentials so parents can relax and know that the hotel staff is professionally trained, that hotel security is on premise 24/7 and there is a General Manager, who has been corporately vetted, running the property.
The company was started in 1999 and is a unique hybrid concept based on combining the service and comfort of a hotel with the uncomplicated nature and stripped-down services of a hostel. The properties are conveniently located, offer high quality amenities, flexible room structures and reasonable prices. Guests include families, business travelers, individuals, school trips and tour groups. It is important to review each property/location as services, amenities and pricing will defer from one property to the next. Locations of hotels currently operated by Meininger include Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, London, Munich, Salzburg and Vienna.
CEO
Navneet Bali joined Meininger in 2012 and has served as CEO since 2013 with responsibilities for organizational Development and Finance. Since 2016 he has been Chairman of Meininger.
Prior to joining this hotel group Bali was Chief Investment Officer for Duet India Hotels, directing a joint venture between the Duet Group and Intercontinental Hotels Group. In addition, he was Chief Financial Offer and Director of Business Development for ebookers plc where he was responsible for listing ebookers plc’s shares on the London Stock Exchange. He has also been a Director of Investment Services at HVS International and Director of Finance at Taj International Hotels. During this time, he transacted and developed hotels in the UK and Europe, India and the US.
Bali completed the Investment Management program at the London Business School and he holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and a MBA from the Indian Institute of Management.
New Hotels
It was an ibis and now it be morphed into a Meininger Hotel in Leipzig. With 126 rooms and 404 beds, the spaces will have a TV, Wi-Fi, USB sockets, and en-suite bathrooms. The room structures are flexible allowing for travelers with different needs and budgets to find accommodations tailored to their specific requirements. There will be single and double rooms as well as spaces with multiple beds. All public spaces, including the lobby, lounge, bar, breakfast room and terrace will be located on the ground floor. There is also a guest kitchen and a games zone (typical of all Meininger properties). In the kitchen, guests can prepare their own meals, 24/7. The kitchen also has a washing machine and dryer.
The Leipzig hotel theme is based on local art and culture and inspired by the concept of Art in Progress. The focus is realized by the architects Bruzkus Batek Architekten, the lead designer for the project’s interior design.
Paris, Budapest and Barcelona
The Paris property will be located in the 12th arrondissement on Avenue Courteline/Boulevard Carnot with transit connections to Paris central. The 200-room property is scheduled to open in 2018.
Another scheduled opening will happen in Budapest, Hungary on Csarnok ter, next to the Great Market Hall. With 184 rooms and 751 beds the property is located on the Pest side of the city near bars, restaurants, shopping and entertainment. It is well connected to public transport. The investor partner for this project is Bedori Investment Kft, a subsidiary of a Hungarian construction company.
The Barcelona Meininger hotel will be located on Gran Via. With 186 room and 682 beds plus underground parking for 50 cars. The property is accessible to public transportation.
Should I Go and Should I Stay
If you take the time to read the reviews on Trip Advisors and a few of the Blog comments it is clear that the high notes of the hotel group are location, location and location. The low note appears to be room size. It should be obvious that the room charges are very guest friendly and there are few options in most cities where you can find a terrific location and large rooms at rates under 200 – 300 Euros per night. And there are even fewer properties that provide guest kitchens where you can cater to your plant-based diet, lactose free-diet, or any other dietary restriction that may be part of your lifestyle.
If your travel needs are basic and your budget is slim, the Meininger properties certainly look like the right decision for the next excursion.
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