Generator Brings New Breed of “Haute” Hostel to Paris in 2015

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. February 26, 2015

February 26, 2015 - Generator is transforming the European hostel category, having opened a string of hip urban design hostels in London, Berlin, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Dublin, Barcelona, and Venice. This February, Paris will join the roster of coveted capitals with the highly anticipated Generator Paris, the brand's largest to date with 920 beds.

Paris will, like all other Generators, evolve the hostel concept into a stylized lifestyle experience, re-imagining the stereotype from backpacker grunge to discerning, more upscale travelers, and bringing affordable style and service to “flashpackers”, solo business travelers, and the millennial jet-set who demand value as well as comfort.

“With a shift in values among modern travelers, the micro-chic hotel category is becoming increasingly popular. We've seized the opportunity to reinvent the hostel experience by making design, style and personal service more accessible to a wide population,” said Generator's Chief Strategic Officer, Josh Wyatt. “We strive to create vibrant, memorable environments that foster social serendipity while delivering a superb sleep experience, and we're excited to bring this concept to Paris where affordable lodgings are often out of reach. This is a major step in the further global expansion of our brand.”

Generator Paris is located in the trendy 10th Arrondissement just above Canal St. Martin, facing the prestigious French Communist Party Headquarters designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Originally constructed in 1985 as an eight-story office block for an insurance firm, the property was gutted and refurbished by local famed project architect JJ Ory, with interiors by Toronto-based DesignAgency.

“Paris ranks with London and Berlin as one of the top three youth travel city destinations in the world,” said Carl Michel, Generator's Executive Chairman. “However affordable, centrally located accommodation has always been in short supply. With its 916 beds, Generator Paris will allow visitors to see and experience the best of the city. Our continued emphasis on expanding to iconic locations and cultivating local relationships has been a key focal point for us as we enter Paris. Our customer philosophy is firmly anchored in providing guests with an authentic experience in each of our cities and we proudly welcome Paris as our 10th location.”

Accommodating guests in a range of 4-10 bed shared rooms, private twin rooms, and penthouse rooms with private terraces, all with en-suite bathrooms, Generator will be one of the largest new concepts in Paris. Continuing the emphasis on unique design, the architectural detail focuses on a wide range of social spaces over four levels including a welcoming lobby, a vibrant bar, a restaurant with a veranda facing the rear garden, a spacious chill out area, and a spectacular rooftop terrace offering sunset views of Montmartre and Sacre Coeur. The interiors capture the romance of the locale, with settings that offer a subtle cinematic Parisian experience. Stepping off Colonel Fabien Place into the lobby, one is greeted by the dramatic sparkle of a lit marquee suspended over a lively, Mondrian-inspired reception desk.

Each Generator property is designed under the supervision of Generator's Creative Director and DesignAgency Principal, Anwar Mekhayech, who counts Soho House and Momofuku among its fashionable clientele. Each property is conceived organically to reflect its local culture and spirit, a philosophy that has earned Generator a number of international design awards, including this year's European Hotel Design Award for Best Lobby and Public Spaces for Generator Venice.

Generator's Creative Director and DesignAgency Principal, Anwar Mekhayech, commented, “There is nothing like this in the hotel market in Paris, not an auberge du jeunesse and not a hostel, but a true design expression of what Generator is as a brand. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in a project of this magnitude in Paris, especially with the likes of JJ Ory. We have also developed our staff to be well connected into the local cultural scenes - whether fashion, art or music - and the local area around the Canal St. Martin is increasingly seen as a bohemian and vibrant part of the city with a long tradition of welcoming visitors. We are excited to be a part of the neighborhood.”

Starting rates will range from just 25€ per bed in a shared room to 49€ per person for a private room, accommodation only. Guests will also have access to locally sourced “#GenMunch” food throughout the day. Reception will be open 24-hours with knowledgeable and multilingual teams.

European Rollout Continues Apace, with Plans for Expansion to US Generator Paris will be joined later in the year by Generator Rome, with 78 rooms and a rooftop terrace near the Coliseum and Termini Station. Also on the books is Generator Amsterdam, a repurposing of buildings in the University of Amsterdam, with 168 rooms. Generator Hostels is eyeing US capital cities for future expansion.

For more information and to book reservations at Generator Paris and Generator Hostels, click on www.generatorhostels.com