What Eklo Hotels does

Eklo Hotels is an independent French hotel operator founded in 2014 in Bordeaux, running a hybrid accommodation model that combines hostel-style dormitories with traditional hotel services. The company currently operates 10 properties and 1,360 rooms (3,200 beds) across major French cities including Paris (Porte de Versailles flagship, 304 rooms), Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Montpellier, Toulouse, Clermont-Ferrand, Marne-la-Vallée, Roissy, and Nantes. Its underlying technology is fundamentally physical and environmental rather than software-driven: modular wooden construction, photovoltaic panels (140 m² at Marne-la-Vallée), LED lighting, water aerators, and eco-certified materials achieving a measured 8kg CO2eq footprint per night per guest. The Paris flagship is BREEAM Very Good and NF Habitat HQE certified, and all hotels carry the Clef Verte (Green Key) international tourism ecolabel; Eklo was the first hotel group in France to obtain Eco-Score A from FairMoove Solutions.

The business model rests on three revenue streams: (1) core room rentals across a flexible mix of singles, doubles, family rooms, dormitories, and apartments at €60–€70 starting rates, distributed primarily direct-to-consumer through eklohotels.com and per-hotel phone lines; (2) food and beverage via the proprietary French Kiss restaurant and café concept at flagship locations, plus breakfast buffets and event catering; and (3) ancillary services including group/event space rental, coworking, parking, pet accommodation, and late checkout. The company serves four overlapping segments — budget-conscious leisure travelers, business travelers, families/groups, and corporate event organizers — with no single customer anchor. Approximately 350 employees support operations, and approximately 9 of 10 hotels are owned by an integrated foncière (real estate vehicle) created in 2023, with €15 million in convertible bonds from Banque des Territoires alongside €35 million raised from Bpifrance, AQUITI Gestion, and SWEN Capital Partners. The 2026 divestiture of the original Le Havre and Le Mans properties concurrent with the Nantes opening signals active portfolio curation toward larger urban markets, consistent with the stated ambition to reach 40 hotels across France by 2035.

Name

Eklo Hotels

Legal name

Eklo Hotels

Website

https://eklohotels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Eklo Hotels is an independent French hotel operator running 10 eco-friendly hybrid hostel-hotel properties with 1,360 rooms across major French cities, serving budget-conscious leisure and business travelers, families, and corporate event clients through a direct-to-consumer model and the proprietary French Kiss F&B concept.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Budget Hotel Services

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Traveler Accommodation (7211)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Budget & Limited-Service Hotels (THAGABAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Low-Cost Extended-Stay (Limited-Service) (THAGABAO)

Keywords

• Eco-friendly hotels
• Hybrid hostel accommodation
• Budget hotel chain
• Hotel accommodation services
• Sustainable hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

Bordeaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Room Rentals: Core revenue from hotel room bookings including various accommodation types: single rooms, double rooms, family rooms, dormitories, apartments, and dormitory privatization for groups
2. Food & Beverage Services: Revenue from restaurant and bar operations including French Kiss concept restaurants, brunch services, breakfast buffets, happy hour, and event catering
3. Group & Event Services: Revenue from seminar facilities, meeting rooms, and private event spaces for corporate events, birthdays, and weddings
4. Additional Services: Revenue from optional services including pet accommodations (Animal option), early check-in/late check-out (Your Time option), cancellation options, parking, and laundry services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Eklo Hotels operates a hybrid hostel-hotel chain across France offering affordable, eco-friendly accommodations in multiple formats (single, double, family rooms, dormitories, and apartments). Each property combines modular wooden construction with hotel services such as 24/7 reception, free WiFi, and on-site food and beverage. The portfolio is complemented by the proprietary French Kiss restaurant and bar concept, coworking spaces, and meeting/event facilities for groups and privatizations.

Product overview

Eklo Hotels operates as a hybrid hostel-hotel chain offering eco-friendly, affordable accommodations across France. The core product is the accommodation platform with diverse room types (single, double, family, dormitory, apartments), supplemented by food and beverage services including the French Kiss restaurant and café concepts, event/meeting spaces for groups and privatizations, and coworking facilities. The company positions itself as a lifestyle hospitality brand combining budget-conscious pricing with design-forward aesthetics and strong environmental commitments. The portfolio spans 10 hotel locations with over 1,360 rooms and 3,200 beds, supported by a integrated real estate function (Ekom foncière). Key differentiators include the Green Key ecolabel certification, all properties rated Eco Score A, BREEAM-certified new constructions, and community-focused spaces like guinguettes and rooftop venues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• French Kiss: French Kiss is Eklo's restaurant and bar concept featuring seasonal menus, brunch offerings, rooftop spaces, and coffee shop facilities. It is deployed across multiple hotel locations including Paris Expo, Nantes, Montpellier, Bordeaux, and Marne-la-Vallée.

Products and services

• Eklo Hotels Accommodation Hybrid hostel-hotel accommodation offering affordable, eco-friendly rooms across multiple formats including single, double, family rooms, dormitories, and apartments at 10 locations across France. Includes 24/7 reception, free WiFi, shared living spaces, and on-site food and beverage outlets.
• French Kiss Restaurant & Bar Proprietary bar and restaurant concept serving seasonal, homemade cuisine with local and artisanal suppliers. Features gourmet menus, brunch services, cocktails, happy hour, and rooftop spaces. Deployed across flagship hotel locations.
• French Kiss Café Coffee shop concept offering coffee, pastries, and light meals; operating at Eklo Nantes with planned expansion to other locations.
• Groups & Privatizations

Quantifiable outcome

• Carbon footprint of only 8kg CO2eq per night per guest
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FairMoove SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability partner that conducted Eklo's Eco-Score A audit measuring environmental impact of accommodations; provides certification and consulting for hotels, restaurants and territories
• Communauté du Coq VertminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative launched by Bpifrance in partnership with ADEME that brings together entrepreneurs committed to accelerating environmental and energy transition
• EkwateurcoreOthersGreen energy supplier providing Eklo with renewable electricity and gas produced in France for all hotel operations
• Deck & DonohueminorOthersArtisanal organic beer brewery certified B Corp and mission-driven company supplying craft beers to Eklo's F&B outlets
• Les Nouveaux PotagersminorOthersLocal supplier cultivating vegetables and herbs for Eklo Bordeaux hotel; donates half of produce to local food bank (Banque alimentaire)
• BeeCityminorOthersBiodiversity partner maintaining beehives at Eklo Lille location to produce honey and support local pollinator populations
• Les AlchimistesminorOthersSocially engaged company that collects Eklo's food waste and transforms it into compost for agricultural reuse
• BicycompostminorOthersCollects and recycles biodéchets (organic waste) from Eklo Bordeaux restaurant using bicycle collection for zero-emission waste management
• EcomégotsminorOthersCollects cigarette butts from all Eklo hotels and transforms them into awareness panels for environmental education
• Too Good To GominorOthersApp-based platform fighting food waste by selling Eklo's unsold food items at reduced prices to consumers
• AktiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting firm that accompanied Eklo in conducting its first carbon footprint assessment (bilan carbone) and in developing carbon reduction strategies
• VipariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French venue operator that developed the Paris Porte de Versailles exhibition park where Eklo operates its flagship 304-room hotel under BEFA arrangement
• AquipierreminorOthersProperty developer that sold Eklo Montpellier hotel in VEFA (sale in future state of completion) arrangement completed in 2023
• Kaufman & BroadminorOthersMajor French property developer and potential partner for future hotel development projects
• IcademinorOthersFrench real estate investment company and potential development partner for Eklo expansion projects
• LinkcityminorOthersBouygues group property development subsidiary and potential partner for Eklo hotel construction projects
• GiboireminorOthersRegional real estate developer potentially involved in Eklo expansion in western France

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• B&B Hotels: B&B Hotels is a French-headquartered budget hotel chain operating across France and Europe with hundreds of properties. Directly comparable to Eklo's budget positioning, French market focus, and limited-service model.
• MEININGER Hotels: MEININGER operates hybrid hostel-hotel properties across Europe combining dormitory beds with private rooms. Closest direct peer to Eklo's hybrid accommodation model and budget-conscious target market.
• Première Classe (Louvre Hotels): Première Classe is a French budget hotel chain with 250+ properties primarily in France. Directly comparable to Eklo on price point, limited-service offering, and French geographic concentration.
• hotelF1 (Accor): hotelF1 is Accor's ultra-budget French hotel brand targeting price-sensitive travelers. Comparable to Eklo on lowest-tier positioning within the French budget hotel market.
• Generator Hostels: Generator operates design-led hostels across European cities combining dormitory and private room formats. Comparable to Eklo's hybrid hostel-hotel concept and design-forward positioning targeting younger travelers.
• a]o Hotels: a]o Hotels operates hybrid hostel-hotel properties in major European cities. Comparable to Eklo on the dormitory-plus-private-room model and urban budget positioning.
• citizenM: citizenM operates compact, design-led affordable hotels across European and US cities. Comparable to Eklo on affordable design-forward positioning and urban property focus, though citizenM is asset-light whereas Eklo owns real estate.

Broad incumbents

• Ibis Budget (Accor): Ibis Budget is Accor's mass-market budget hotel brand with thousands of properties across Europe. Directly competes with Eklo in the French budget segment but operates at significantly larger scale within Accor's broader portfolio.
• Jo&Joe (Accor): Jo&Joe is Accor's open-house hybrid hostel-hotel brand. Comparable to Eklo's hybrid concept but operates as part of Accor's broader portfolio with greater resources and brand reach.
• Mama Shelter: Mama Shelter is a French design lifestyle hotel brand with multiple French locations. Comparable on French market focus and design-forward positioning, though Mama Shelter targets a higher price tier than Eklo's budget offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=eklo+hotels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eklo-hotels
• Instagraminstagram.com/eklo.officiel
• Xx.com/eklohotels
• Facebookfacebook.com/eklo.officiel

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eklo Hotels