easyHotel, the budget hotel brand headed by entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has appointed a new chief executive to take charge of a major expansion programme aimed at putting value-for-money hotels into every major European city and beyond. Simon Champion joins the easyHotel team from Deutsche Bank where he was managing director responsible for equity research on consumer companies.

easyHotel has signed a 20-year master franchise agreement with Lonrho Budget Hotels to open and operate a network of properties across Africa. The plans encompass 50 hotels scheduled to open over the next five years and will focus on African destinations served by easyJet, as well as other large cities across the continent which have demonstrated significant domestic and international demand for clean, safe and consistent quality branded hotel accommodation. 

Super budget brand easyHotel is further expanding its hotel offering as it announces its taking reservations from the 15th October for its newest property, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Located in the bustling heart of the capital, the hotel will open its doors in January 2010 with an opening offer on prices starting from just €10 (euros) per room per night.