Experimental Group
Experimental Group is a privately held boutique hospitality operator founded in Paris in 2007, owning and running hotels, restaurants, cocktail clubs, wine bars, beach clubs, spas, and boutiques across 13+ European and US destinations for affluent luxury travelers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Experimental Group does
Experimental Group is a privately held boutique hospitality operator founded in Paris in 2007, originally established as a cocktail bar (Experimental Cocktail Club) and progressively expanded into restaurants, wine bars, beach clubs, nightclubs, spas, and hotels. The company owns and operates a portfolio of more than 13 properties across prime European and US destinations, including Paris, London, New York, Venice, Biarritz, Menorca, Ibiza, Cannes, the Cotswolds, Verbier, and Val d'Isère, with pipeline openings in Rome (October 2026), Porto (2026), Comporta (2027), and a planned entry into Brazil by 2028. Signature sub-brands include Experimental Cocktail Club, La Compagnie Wine Bar, Frenchie restaurants (chef Greg Marchand), and design-forward hotels with interiors by Dorothée Meilichzon.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer model, with reservations taken through the group's website and individual property pages via an integrated booking widget (namastay), supplemented by on-property concierge sales and partnerships with OTAs and travel advisors. Revenue is generated through four primary streams: hotel room operations, food and beverage across restaurants/bars/clubs/spas, on-site boutique retail, and private events (corporate, weddings, celebrations). Pricing is unit-based, with examples including brunch at €39-€69 per person at Biarritz properties; nightly hotel rates are not publicly disclosed. The group employs 501-1,000 staff and is backed by Brookfield Asset Management, which led a roughly $427 million funding round in November 2021. Forecourted current-year revenue is €100 million. Ownership of real estate assets, distinct from third-party management, provides operational control and long-term asset appreciation potential, exemplified by the €70 million joint acquisition of Quinta Da Comporta with Extendam in January 2026.
Experimental Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Experimental Group
- Legal name
- Experimental Group
- Website
- https://experimentalgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Experimental Group is a privately held boutique hospitality operator founded in Paris in 2007, owning and running hotels, restaurants, cocktail clubs, wine bars, beach clubs, spas, and boutiques across 13+ European and US destinations for affluent luxury travelers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Experimental Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Boutique Hospitality
- NAICS
- Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Accommodation (721), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lifestyle & Social Hotels (THAGADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hotel & Resort Restaurants (THAFACAH)
Keywords
Where Experimental Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices14 records
Markets served
Experimental Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Hotel Operations: The group owns and operates boutique hotels across prime European and US destinations, generating revenue through room bookings, with a strategy of owning properties and designing unique experiences.
- Restaurant & Bar Operations: Extensive portfolio of restaurants, wine bars (La Compagnie), cocktail clubs (Experimental Cocktail Club), beach clubs, night clubs, and wellness/spa facilities generating food and beverage revenue.
- Retail & Boutique: On-site boutiques at each property selling merchandise, gifts, and lifestyle products.
- Private Events: Venues available for private events including corporate meetings, celebrations, and weddings with dedicated event planning services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sunday Brunch at Regina Experimental Biarritz |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sunday Brunch at Hôtel Le Garage Biarritz |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Experimental Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Experimental Group operates a portfolio of boutique hotels, in-house restaurant brands (Frenchie), wine bars (La Compagnie), the Experimental Cocktail Club chain, beach clubs, nightclubs (Farm Club, STEREO), wellness spas, and retail boutiques across Europe and the United States. The group follows an asset-light strategy, primarily leasing real estate rather than owning it, and integrates food-and-beverage, nightlife, and wellness programming within each property or location.
Product overview
Experimental Group is a boutique hospitality company offering a diversified portfolio of hotels, restaurants, wine bars, cocktail clubs, beach clubs, nightclubs, wellness spas, and boutiques across Europe and New York. Founded in Paris in 2007, the company operates properties under distinct brands including Experimental Marais, Grands Boulevards Experimental, Grand Pigalle Experimental, Henrietta Experimental, Il Palazzo Experimental, Regina Experimental, Hôtel Le Garage Biarritz, Menorca Experimental, Montesol Experimental, Cowley Manor Experimental, Experimental Chalet Verbier, and Experimental Chalet Val d'Isère. The portfolio also includes Experimental Cocktail Club bars, La Compagnie Wine Bars, Frenchie restaurants, beach clubs (Bijou Plage Experimental, Experimental Beach Ibiza, Elemento Atlantico), nightclubs (STEREO, Farm Club), wellness spas, and retail boutiques. Upcoming openings include Experimental Roma (October 2026), Experimental Porto (2026), and Experimental Comporta (2027).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Experimental Cocktail Club: Brand of cocktail bars and lounges operated across multiple locations including Paris, London, New York, Venice, Cotswolds, Verbier, and Val d'Isère
- La Compagnie Wine Bar
- Frenchie
- Hôtel Le Garage Biarritz
- Regina Experimental
Products and services
- Boutique Hotels
Companies that use Experimental Group
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Experimental Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Experimental Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Experimental Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Soho House: Members-based lifestyle hospitality group operating hotels, clubs, restaurants, spas, and rooftops globally. Closely comparable to Experimental Group in the lifestyle boutique hotel and members-club hybrid model, F&B-driven identity, and design-led approach.
- Ace Hotel: Design-forward boutique hotel brand with on-site bars, restaurants, and live music programming. Comparable to Experimental Group in the design-first positioning, food and beverage integration, and curated cultural programming.
- 1 Hotels: Luxury lifestyle hotel brand with sustainability and wellness focus, operating owned properties in prime urban and resort destinations. Comparable in owned-property strategy, lifestyle positioning, and integrated wellness amenities.
- The Standard: Lifestyle boutique hotel brand known for integrated bars, restaurants, and nightlife venues. Directly comparable to Experimental Group in the boutique-lifestyle positioning and F&B as a core brand pillar.
- Nobu Hotels: Lifestyle hospitality brand built around chef-driven restaurants. Comparable to Experimental Group in the integrated F&B-led hospitality model and curated culinary experience as a brand differentiator.
- The Hoxton: Open-house style boutique hotel brand with lively lobby bars, restaurants, and coworking spaces. Comparable to Experimental Group in design-forward positioning, integrated F&B venues, and urban European footprint.
- Mama Shelter: Design-led boutique hotel chain with integrated restaurants, bars, and rooftop venues across European cities. Comparable to Experimental Group in design-driven positioning, urban European footprint, and F&B-centric hospitality concept.
Broad incumbents
- Aman: Ultra-luxury resort and hotel operator with owned properties in exclusive destinations. Comparable as a high-end owned-property hospitality operator, though at a significantly higher price point and more resort-focused than Experimental Group.
- Rosewood Hotels & Resorts: Luxury hotel collection with owned and managed properties globally, known for residential-style design. Comparable in luxury positioning and lifestyle amenities, though broader in scale and global footprint.
- Belmond (LVMH): Luxury hotel collection owned by LVMH operating iconic properties in Europe and beyond. Comparable in European luxury heritage positioning and owned-property strategy, though at significantly larger scale and backed by LVMH.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Experimental Group social profiles
Digital presenceExperimental Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Experimental Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Experimental Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Experimental Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Experimental Group
What does Experimental Group do?
Experimental Group operates a portfolio of boutique hotels, in-house restaurant brands (Frenchie), wine bars (La Compagnie), the Experimental Cocktail Club chain, beach clubs, nightclubs (Farm Club, STEREO), wellness spas, and retail boutiques across Europe and the United States. The group follows an asset-light strategy, primarily leasing real estate rather than owning it, and integrates food-and-beverage, nightlife, and wellness programming within each property or location.
Is Experimental Group a public or private company?
Experimental Group is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Experimental Group founded?
Experimental Group was founded in 2007. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Experimental Group based?
Experimental Group is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Experimental Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hotel Operations are the primary driver. The others are restaurant & Bar Operations, retail & Boutique and private Events.
Who are Experimental Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Soho House, Ace Hotel, 1 Hotels, The Standard, Nobu Hotels, The Hoxton and Mama Shelter. Broad incumbents are Aman, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and Belmond (LVMH).
Does Experimental Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Experimental Group.
What industry is Experimental Group in?
Experimental Group's product category is Boutique Hospitality. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAGADAB, Lifestyle & Social Hotels, with a secondary code of THAFACAH, Hotel & Resort Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 72111 and its SIC code is 7000.