YOTEL has unveiled a new hotel and restaurant venture on the shores of Lake Geneva, within a stone’s throw of both Geneva Airport and the city centre.

As Hubert Viriot, chief executive of YOTEL, told Breaking Travel News during a visit to celebrate the launch: “It’s always a special moment to open a new property.

“This is a very futuristic hotel, with fantastic Danish food and beverage, near the convention centre.

“It’s a very strategic location, between all the different components that make up the Geneva Lake region, completely unique.

“What better time to do it?”

Hubert Viriot, chief executive of YOTEL, spoke to Breaking Travel News during a recent visit

YOTEL Geneva Lake is the twenty-second property to be opened by the brand who are aiming for the ambitious target of 50 hotels by 2030.

With another 12 under development, the UK-based company are not that far off target.

The brands under the core concept include: YOTEL (larger hotels in urban locations), YOTELAIR (airports), and YOTELPAD (extended stays).

Aimed at the ‘go generation’/non-stop traveller, they seek to disrupt the traditional hospitality industry by offering unique, seamless experiences.

The Geneva property spans across those concepts.

The region itself is semi-rural, spread out between a few different hubs, so the property has been located to be convenient for the centre of Geneva, the airport and convention centre, as well as Lausanne and Bern.

It’s also a great pitstop for exploring the nearby attractions at Nyon, Montreux and Yvoire.

Because of the decentralised nature of the area, it was necessary to have more facilities onsite than might be expected from a YOTEL.

In a shift from YOTEL’s usual urban or airport locations, the property has been created as a destination in itself.

The 237-room hotel offers scenic views, Danish inspired food and beverage, and upscale meeting rooms and event spaces.

This is unique to the region where typically hotels offer bed capacity or events spaces but not often both together.

As Viriot adds: “Hotels are pretty traditional, the way they serve, the design, to their purpose and so forth.

“We disrupt the industry with very different types of room, very different designs and very efficient projects.

“So, by our nature, we will be extremely different and quite disruptive versus anything else you find, I daresay, in the whole of Switzerland.”

The newly built, modern design property makes full use of the scenic location.

While YOTEL is a global brand, they are committed to providing local touches for each property, from sourcing local produce and wine from down the road, to the design of each hotel.

In this case, the design incorporates a glass facade, public viewing spaces and an abundance of windows and terraces overlooking Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc in the distance, bringing the scenery inside in all weathers.

The lighting also changes to compliment the exterior view.

Technology is a key part of the brand and the YOTEL Geneva Lake property is no different, offering design features in each room including their signature (and very comfortable) SmartBeds that raise and lower with a button, creating more space when not being used, and sensory lighting.

“We’re selling sleep, so we better have a good bed, but besides this it’s true that the room is very smart as well.

“You have everything from one main pad at the entrance, and it makes it easier,” explains Raffaella Bastianini, general manager of YOTEL Geneva Lake.

There has obviously been a lot of attention paid to the quality and detail: the bedding, the showers, the amenities, the acoustics and the views, through to the floor to ceiling windows complete with blackout blinds.

The hotel features Switzerland’s first Nordic-inspired gastronomy experience.

Hvgge Place is a new dining and event hub for locals and travellers, created in partnership with Caviar House Airport Premium, Switzerland.

This boasts two restaurant concepts: Hvgge, which offers Danish comfort food, including Smorrebrod, and the Seafood Bar with fresh seafood dishes and caviar. 

As Bastianini explains: “It’s all about being cosy and feeling good, and so actually, it was obvious that the hotel and Hvgge is all about well-being and feeling well in where you stay.

“So, it’s a perfect match, really, two companies, but we’re really thinking as one.”

The partnership with Caviar House & Prunier brings an upscale dining option to the location.

The venue as a whole features contemporary architecture and versatile spaces for events of all sizes, including the flexible spaces in the Banqueting & Conference Centre, the Rooftop with lake and mountain views, and the Auditorium for larger events, accommodating up to 200 guests.

YOTEL as a brand has ambitious plans for expansion globally, with existing and new projects focused on North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

In the latter two, they have focused on new builds, but largely tend to convert existing spaces - office buildings in particular.

This is a strategy that is uniquely suited to the YOTEL room designs, and also takes advantage of changes in consumption habits and real estate uses post-Covid, as well as the realities of financing and regional macroeconomics.

As Viriot puts it: “It’s not easy to convert in a building to be honest.

“But very exciting and honestly, it makes so much sense.

“Why build more? It’s already there! I think where we have a competitive advantage in the business of converting offices is, the rooms are quite compact, they’re easier to stack into this building.”

This has ramifications for environmental impact.

“We consume less real estate, we consume less construction goods, we generate less carbon, and we use less power,” he adds.

“It’s not just about being small.

“It’s just generating a building and overall experience which kind of truly meets what people are expecting.”

Back to Lake Geneva and, so far, everything is looking promising with healthy occupancy in the early days of the launch.

As Bastianini, summarises: “Everybody was very excited and curious about the hotel.

“So far everybody’s been really impressed with the product, because it’s simple and efficient.

“The guests can have a heavy day of work and being away.

“But when they come back to the hotel, they can actually relax.

“They have a beautiful view of the lake.

“They can have a glass on a rooftop bar. It’s a moment to yourself, a moment of being cosy.”

More Information

Visit the official website for more information.

Words: Sapphire Goss. Images: Sapphire Goss/YOTEL