Cityhub

What Cityhub does

CityHub operates an asset-light urban lifestyle hotel brand built around proprietary modular 'Hub' pod sleeping units with app-controlled mood lighting, Bluetooth audio, climate control, USB charging and RFID wristband access. Its four operational properties span Amsterdam (50 Hubs, opened 2015), Rotterdam (126 Hubs, opened 2018), Copenhagen (210 Hubs plus 5 rooms, opened 2020) and Reykjavik (89 Hubs plus 4 accessible rooms, opened November 2024), with a fifth Hamburg project in development for 2027. Total network is ~475 Hubs; the company is headquartered in Amsterdam and is privately held by co-founders Sem Schuurkes and Pieter van Tilburg, with Remco Gerritsen appointed CEO in September 2025.

The product is differentiated by a compact 15m² per key footprint enabling roughly 3x more keys per square metre than a standard hotel, supporting adaptive reuse of existing buildings (e.g., the Hotel Pacific in Hamburg). Operations are largely automated: 24/7 self-service check-in kiosks, RFID-enabled self-service bars, and a mobile app for booking, CityHost communication and stay management. The brand is B Corp certified (May 2024), reports an 89% per-guest carbon reduction versus the European hotel average, and earned Forbes' 'World's 9 Most Teched-Out Hotels' designation alongside a 2016 Worldwide Hospitality Award for Best Innovation in Hotel Concept.

Revenue is generated from nightly Hub rentals (rates starting from ~€80/night), extended-stay subscriptions (from ~€900/month in Rotterdam and 12,000 DKK/month in Copenhagen targeting digital nomads), ancillary F&B (to-go breakfast from €9 / 75 DKK / 1900 ISK; self-service bar), and a real-estate partnership channel in which developers/investors fund property conversion (e.g., Thingvangur in Reykjavik, Kohler & von Bargen in Hamburg) and CityHub installs Hubs and manages operations. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via cityhub.com and iOS/Android apps, supplemented by earned media; payments are card-only and standardized 24-hour cancellation terms apply. Booking.com ratings across locations range from 9.0 to 9.3.

Name

Cityhub

Legal name

CityHub

Website

https://cityhub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CityHub is a privately held Amsterdam-based urban lifestyle hotel brand operating ~475 proprietary modular 'Hub' pods across four European cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Copenhagen, Reykjavik), serving tech-savvy travellers, backpackers and digital nomads with app-based, self-service stays.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Pod-Style Hotels

NAICS

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

SIC

Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro primary industry

Quiet/Work-Friendly (Digital Nomad) Hostels (THAMAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Urban Limited-Service Hotels (THAGABAH), Co-Living / Hybrid Extended-Stay Residences (THAGAEAK), Long-Stay/Monthly Backpacker Hostels (THAGAGAI)

Keywords

• Pod hotel accommodations
• Urban lifestyle hotels
• Extended stay rentals
• Modular hotel rooms
• Smart hotel booking

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Nightly Hub Rentals: Core revenue from renting modular Hub pods on a nightly basis. Rates starting from €80/night in Reykjavik, with prices varying by location and season.
2. Extended Stay / Flexible Living: Monthly and weekly rental options for extended stays. Rotterdam offers from €900/month, Copenhagen from 12,000 DKK/month. Targets digital nomads and long-term visitors.
3. Food & Beverage: Self-service bar with wine, spirits, soft drinks and craft beers. To-go breakfast service available at additional cost.
4. Real Estate Partnerships: Partnership model where developers/investors provide property for conversion into CityHub hotels. Company installs Hub rooms and manages operations, generating returns for both parties through efficient space utilization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CityHub operates urban lifestyle hotels built around compact, modular "Hub" sleeping pods outfitted with app-controlled lighting, Bluetooth audio, climate control, and RFID wristband access. Properties include communal Hangout spaces combining reception, lounge, and self-service bar, supported by 24/7 CityHosts and self-service check-in kiosks. The brand sells nightly and long-stay accommodation directly to travellers through its website, mobile application, and on-site kiosks, with ancillary food and beverage offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hub Pod Accommodation Modular pod-style sleeping unit with app-controlled mood lighting, Bluetooth music streaming, RFID wristband access, USB charging, and climate control, sold as nightly accommodation to urban travellers.
• CityHub Mobile App iOS and Android application that enables guests to book accommodations, complete digital check-in, communicate with CityHosts, unlock doors via wristband, and control in-room lighting and music.
• Flexible Living (Extended Stay) Long-term rental offering weekly and monthly stays at Rotterdam from €900 per month or €300 per week and Copenhagen from 12,000 DKK per month or 4,000 DKK per week, including hotel service, workspace access in Hangout areas, and CityHost support for digital nomads.
• To-Go Breakfast Optional add-on breakfast served as a to-go package including a local pastry, fruit, yoghurt with granola, juice, and coffee or tea; priced at €9 in Amsterdam, 75 DKK in Copenhagen, and 1,900 ISK in Reykjavik.
• Movie Hub Specialized pod room at the Reykjavik location featuring a large TV, king-sized bed, and additional storage space, sold as a higher-tier accommodation option for guests seeking a movie-marathon experience.
• Twin Hub Pod configuration with two separate single mattresses, individual blankets, and a divider, sold as an accommodation option for guests who prefer not to share a bed.

Quantifiable outcome

• 89% carbon footprint reduction per guest compared to European hotel average
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kohler & von BargencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Local German real estate developer and lead investor for Hamburg hotel development. Partner Helmut Köhler leading adaptive reuse of Hotel Pacific building.
• ThingvangurcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2024Local Icelandic developer partnered with CityHub for Reykjavik hotel development. Owner Pálmar Harðarson collaborated on adaptive reuse of existing building in prime Hverfisgata location.
• HAF StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2024Local Icelandic interior design studio responsible for Reykjavik hotel design inspired by Iceland's colorful nature and vibrant culture.
• Booking.com (TravelProud)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCertified member of Booking.com's #TravelProud programme, collaborating on making travel more inclusive for LGBTQ+ community.
• Homies FoundationminorOthersLocal Dutch charity partnership providing temporary accommodation to people experiencing homelessness during off-season. 303 nights of accommodation provided in 2023.
• Room for ChangeminorOthersLocal charity partnership providing temporary accommodation to people experiencing homelessness. Part of CityHub's giving back initiative.
• GrødminorOthersCopenhagen breakfast partner offering exclusive porridge breakfast menu for CityHub travellers at reasonable set price.
• RiF010minorOthersWorld's first surf pool in Rotterdam. CityHub guests receive 10% discount on surf sessions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• citizenM: citizenM operates luxury pod-style hotels with app-controlled rooms, self-service check-in, and compact modular rooms in major global cities. It is the most direct competitor to CityHub, sharing the same tech-enabled affordable luxury positioning and targeting similar urban traveler segments.
• Yotel: Yotel pioneered the compact cabin hotel concept with adjustable 'SmartBed' technology and self-service kiosks in airports and city centers. It competes directly with CityHub's pod format and tech-enabled operational model in European and global urban markets.
• Generator Hostels: Generator operates design-led hostels and hybrid hotel-hostel properties across major European cities, combining private rooms with social communal spaces. It overlaps with CityHub's community-focused Hangout concept and budget-conscious urban traveler segment.
• MEININGER Hotels: MEININGER operates hybrid hotel-hostel properties across Europe with compact rooms and shared facilities at budget prices. It competes with CityHub's affordable urban accommodation positioning and similar private-pod-with-shared-amenities model.
• Selina: Selina operates nomad-focused hostels and co-living properties globally with private and shared accommodations targeting digital nomads and remote workers. It overlaps with CityHub's flexible-living extended-stay offering and digital nomad customer segment.
• a]o Hotels: a]o Hotels operates urban design hotels in major European cities combining hostel-style shared spaces with affordable private rooms. It competes with CityHub's pod-hotel positioning and community-oriented value proposition for budget urban travelers.
• Wombat's Hostels: Wombat's operates design hostels across Europe with private and shared rooms, communal kitchens, and social bars. It overlaps with CityHub's hostel-hotel hybrid positioning and budget-conscious European urban traveler segment, though with more dormitory-style offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Moxy Hotels: Moxy is Marriott's tech-forward, limited-service lifestyle hotel brand targeting younger travelers with smaller rooms, self-service amenities, and vibrant social spaces. It competes with CityHub in the affordable urban tech-enabled segment but with the backing of Marriott's loyalty and distribution platform.
• Hub by Premier Inn: Hub by Premier Inn is Whitbread's compact-room city-center hotel brand with app-controlled features and modular design. It targets the same affordable tech-enabled urban traveler niche as CityHub but benefits from Premier Inn's UK distribution scale.
• The Hoxton: The Hoxton is a lifestyle hotel brand with properties in major European and US cities, blending affordable design with community-focused spaces. It competes with CityHub in the urban lifestyle segment but at higher price points and with full-service amenities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cityhub
• Facebookfacebook.com/CityHub
• Instagraminstagram.com/cityhub
• TikToktiktok.com/@cityhub_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cityhub

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Cityhub