YOTEL

YOTEL is a design-led, tech-forward hospitality brand that has been redefining the hotel experience since its launch in London in 2007. Founded by Simon Woodroffe, the creator of the YO! Sushi chain, YOTEL was born from a simple yet radical idea: to translate the luxury and efficiency of first-class airline travel and Japanese capsule hotels into a small but beautifully designed hotel room.

The brand's philosophy is encapsulated in the phrase "everything you need, nothing you don't". YOTEL targets tech-savvy, value-conscious modern travelers who seek smart design over unnecessary frills, delivering what it calls "affordable luxury". This ethos is manifested in its signature "cabins"—compact rooms that maximize space through clever design. The centerpiece is the YOTEL SmartBed™, a motorized bed that converts from a flatbed to a sofa at the touch of a button, transforming the room from a sleeping space into a living area. Other tech-enabled features include self-service check-in stations, automated luggage storage (often handled by robots like the "YOBOT"), app-based check-in, SmartTVs, and "Technowalls" that house USB and Bluetooth ports.

YOTEL operates through a portfolio of three distinct brands to suit different travel needs:

• YOTEL: The flagship city-center hotels, located in vibrant urban destinations.

• YOTELAIR: Transit-optimized hotels located inside major airport terminals, designed for short stays and layovers, with rooms bookable from as little as four hours.

• YOTELPAD: Built for longer stays, these properties offer dedicated spaces to sleep, live, and work, blending the efficiency of YOTEL with the comforts of an extended-stay apartment.

From its origins as an airport-focused concept, YOTEL has expanded globally, with properties in key cities such as New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Amsterdam, and London. The brand has ambitious growth plans, aiming to more than triple its portfolio in the coming years. In a significant strategic move in 2026, YOTEL became the first brand to join Select by Hilton, a new platform that allows established brands to retain their unique identity while benefiting from Hilton's global distribution network and the award-winning Hilton Honors loyalty program. This partnership is set to accelerate YOTEL's global expansion while preserving the innovative spirit that defines it.

FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) at YOTEL is defined by one guiding principle: intelligent design that maximises every square metre. Inspired by first-class airline cabins, YOTEL's FF&E package transforms compact spaces into sleek, highly functional environments.

Signature FF&E Components

The centrepiece of every YOTEL cabin is the patented SmartBed™, a fully adjustable bed that converts from an upright sofa to a queen-sized bed at the touch of a button, paired with a bespoke Hypnos mattress for consistent sleep quality. Each cabin also features the Technowall—an integrated unit housing a smart TV with mobile casting, wireless charging pads, adjustable mood lighting, and a fold-away ironing board, consolidating essential amenities into a single streamlined surface. Bathrooms are fitted with monsoon rain showers and Roca's Surfex® solid surface washbasins designed to maximise counter space in compact footprints.

Sustainable FF&E Practices

YOTEL embeds sustainability directly into its FF&E specification. Mattresses are supplied by Naturalmat using organic coconut fibres and sheep wool, while desks in newer properties are built from reclaimed Terrazzo. Across all hotels, single-use toiletry bottles have been replaced with refillable Urban Jungle pump dispensers, and low-VOC paints are used throughout to improve indoor air quality.

Modular Delivery & Procurement

YOTEL's FF&E is designed for global scalability. In the Amsterdam Noord project, all 202 cabins were prefabricated in a modular factory before being transported to site, allowing FF&E procurement and installation to be completed in just two months. This modular approach, combined with YOTEL's network of approved suppliers, ensures brand consistency while reducing on-site construction time and waste.