Those of you interested in learning about new hotel brands should follow the progress of the Light Human Hotel. It is a new brand coming out of France and the idea of Julien Veyron and Jean-Pierre Bandeira, two French entrepreneurs who first met during a business summit focusing on Latin America Property Development. Architect and planner, Julien Veyron was there for architecture firm atelier arcau’s business development. Jean-Pierre Bandeira was there to develop YOO Co. (founded by Philippe Starck and John Hitchcox). They met at the outdoor bar of the Trump International Hotel & Tower Panama and started to discuss real estate and architecture. A few months later, Bandeira joined atelier arcau to develop the global business of the company. After a few years of observation and discussion, the idea of launching a new brand and concept for hotels came up in 2015. The result: the Light Human Hotel, a new brand designed to appeal to Millennials.
I spoke with Bandeira this past week. He is now CEO of Light Human Hotel. What caught my attention was the brand’s emphasis on sustainability and green building design. While I am still gathering specifics, Bandeira told me Light Human Hotels will go beyond LEED in regard to building health and efficiency. Designed for both new construction and retrofits, Light Human Hotels will offer electric vehicle charging stations, optional housekeeping in some cases, farm to table restaurants, fitness centers with bicycles that generate electricity, and the integration of “live” plants into exterior building features.
‘Urban Reinterpretation of Nature’
According to Julien Veyron, CEO and Partner at atelier arcau, Light Human Hotel is “the first brand which is truly environmentally friendly through a sustainable architecture, an urban reinterpretation of nature, good food, etc. Aligned with this eco-responsible commitment, all hotels are selected in view of their strategic [proximity] to public transport, bicycles…”
There are currently plans for eight hotels in the coming three years in Miami, San Antonio, Los Angeles, New York, Sao Paulo, Antibes, Rio de Janeiro and London. The first Light Human Hotel, an 80-room property, will open in Miami later this year. A company called moooi is the designer for Light Human Hotel projects.
Bandeira kept emphasizing to me how different Light Human Hotels will be from any others in their markets. Lobby areas, for example, will feature different spaces for different interest groups. A “Kids Bar” will be a place for children to play. Floors will be dedicated to families with children.
There is flexibility in regard to how one brands a Light Human Hotel. For example, there could be a Light Human Hotel “by your brand” or one could even be more subtle with the Light Human Hotel connection. A flat fee includes brand license and architecture and design, operations model and brand mix. In a document prepared for Light Human Hotels, Veyron explained: “Light Human Hotel is the first concept launched by the company. The concept is very flexible: it fits for 4 to 5 stars hotels. The brand and its guideline use is adapted for independent hotels, for operators and for big brands as it can be used as a brand, as a concept by the operator brand or as a concept for another hotel brand.”
Light Human Hotel will not manage properties. Management companies selected so far include Trust Hospitality and Intercity Hotels.
Be sure to continue to read Green Lodging News for additional details on Light Human Hotel.
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