Since 28th of May the MEININGER group operates its first hotel in Russia. The MEININGER Hotel St. Petersburg Nikolsky offers a total of 158 rooms and is located in the heart of St. Petersburg in the former Nikolsky market halls on Sadovaya Street.
The hotel represents MEININGER's first ever hotel-hostel hybrid in Russia. MEININGER operates the hotel under a management contract. VIYM, a private equity firm, which specialises in growth capital and hospitality investments across Russia, CIS and Europe, acted as a professional consultant on the Nikolskiye Ryady development project.
The MEININGER Hotel St. Petersburg Nikolsky covers a total area of 7300 sqm. The 158 rooms are spread over 2 floors and range from classic double rooms to multi-bed rooms, which are perfect for families and groups. All public areas such as the reception, lobby, lounge, breakfast room and bar as well as the guest kitchen and games zone, which are typical features of a MEININGER hotel, are located on the ground floor of the building.
The interior design of the hotel developed by the Swedish design studio Lundwall Architects is based on a distinctive theme specific to the local area. "This is how our guests discover interesting and surprising facets of the city already in the hotel." says Doros Theodorou, CCO of MEININGER hotels. At the MEININGER Hotel St. Petersburg Nikolsky, several specific features of the city as well as the market hall itself served as inspiration for the interior design. The "Golden Triangle" is reflected in the form of an artful installation on the ceiling of the gallery passage. In the hallways of the hotel guests come across the "White Nights" and immerse themselves in a play of light and shadow. In the breakfast room, the history of the market hall is taken up, which in the past, among other things, housed an enamel factory. The material is used decoratively on the walls of the room. "The unique local character is an essential part of our interior design in all MEININGER hotels. It contributes significantly to the guest experience and creates a connection to the city, which offers numerous attractions. We want to help our guests to discover the city in their preferred way and make the most of their time, be it business travellers, family or individual travellers." continues Theodorou.
Commenting on the opening, VIYM's co-founder Andrey Yakunin said: "The brand new MEININGER Hotel in St. Petersburg is a unique project for the city, responding to the growing demand for low-budget accommodation, which is steadily out-performing other segments in the hotel industry. Due to its simple concept and beautiful location, the hotel is the perfect destination for tourist groups, families, and independent travellers from all over the world, especially during the upcoming FIFA 2018 World Cup. We at VIYM constantly endeavour to explore and introduce new hospitality products in Russia. We work with the leading European and international players, helping them enter this dynamic and exciting, yet challenging, market."
With the opening of the MEININGER Hotel St. Petersburg Nikolsky, the MEININGER Group enters a new market. "We are very excited about the opening of the hotel in St. Petersburg. As the second largest metropolis in Russia and an important cultural centre, St Petersburg is an excellent addition to our portfolio and a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. In 2017, St. Petersburg received the World Travel Award for Europe's Best City Destination. This is a coveted and outstanding award! " says Hannes Spanring, CEO of MEININGER Hotels.
"We also have to break new ground in sales and marketing. Russia is an exciting market with a lot of potential and we are now concentrating more strongly on it" says Doros Theodorou.
Thanks to its excellent location it's easy and convenient to explore the wonderful city with its many attractions and cultural attractions from the hotel. Located at one of the many canals that flow through St. Petersburg and characterize the cityscape, guests can start their city tour with a walk along the water. The Mariinsky theatre is within walking distance of the hotel, as well as the Nicholas Naval Cathedral.
MEININGER continues to expand. "In 2018 we are going to open 4 more hotels in Europe and eleven further projects are already under development " continues Hannes Spanring.
About MEININGER Hotels:
MEININGER is a subsidiary of Holidaybreak Ltd, a travel group specialising in educational and activity holidays. Holidaybreak Ltd is a subsidiary of Prometheon Holdings (UK) Ltd, which is a part of Cox & Kings Ltd. Cox & Kings Ltd is listed on the National Stock Exchange, the BSE Ltd in Mumbai.
MEININGER is a unique hotel product that combines the service and comfort of an international budget hotel with extra facilities, such as a guest kitchen and a games zone. The central location, high quality furnishings and fair prices appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. With the right dose of MEININGER humour and an enthusiastic team, MEININGER hotels with their guests from all over the world become a real home away from home.
The bedrooms range from traditional double rooms through private rooms with multiple beds right down to a bed in a dorm room. The hotels are tailored and adapted to the specific location and the market served by the hotel. The unique and flexible design of each hotel makes it possible to appeal to various target groups alike, such as school groups, families, individual travellers and corporate guests.
MEININGER currently operates 22 hybrid hotels in Europe, with a total of 11,340 beds in 14 European cities including Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, London, Milan, Munich, Salzburg, Saint Petersburg, Rome and Vienna. Contracts for 14 new hotels in Berlin, Bordeaux, Brussels, Budapest, Dresden, Geneva, Glasgow, Heidelberg, Lyon, Milan, Munich, Paris, Zurich and Lisbon have already been signed. MEININGER has ambitious plans for growth - in this regard, the focus is no longer only on Europe - possibilities for an expansion to North America and Asia are also being sounded out.
In the 'TREUGAST Investment Ranking 2016', the MEININGER Group achieved an AA rating. The group is headquartered in Berlin.
About VIYM
VIYM is an authorised Alternative Investment Fund Manager, regulated in Luxembourg and dedicated solely to private equity services for international investors seeking investment consulting, deal origination and asset management. VIYM targets those who seek a diverse and comprehensive strategy and provides them with exposure to a balanced risk/return profile between the established European markets and the fast-growing, emerging opportunities of Russia and other CIS economies. To provide stable returns and value-added upside potential, the firm varies its investments from the growth capital markets of Small and Mid Caps to secure real estate investments.
