The German hotel chain Meininger has inaugurated its first establishment in southern Europe in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, next to the Fira Gran Via venue. The company's plan includes opening another hotel in Madrid by 2028 and is exploring new locations in Valencia, Bilbao, Málaga, or Seville.
The German hotel chain Meininger has launched its first hotel in southern Europe in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, right next to the Fira Gran Via exhibition centre. The establishment, which opens its doors in a converted former office building, marks the start of an ambitious expansion strategy in the Iberian Peninsula.
The company currently manages 37 hotels in Europe with a total of 21,200 beds spread across 27 cities and aims to reach 50 establishments in the next four years. Its revenue in the last financial year reached 200 million euros, as explained by Meininger's CEO, Ajit Menon, in a video call.
The hotel in L'Hospitalet has 162 rooms and over 500 beds. Its business model sits midway between a traditional hotel and a hostel, with private rooms and shared spaces such as kitchens and lounges. The target audience includes families with children, young people, business travellers, and, in some locations, backpackers, although Menon clarified that they will not have a license for this last profile in Barcelona.
The opening comes amid a heated debate about the tourism model in Catalonia, with opposing views from political parties and business groups. While institutions advocate for lower-volume tourism with higher spending per visitor, Meininger opts for a more affordable segment. Menon prefers to speak of “tourism for the majority” rather than “mass tourism,” and defends that travelling is “extremely enriching” for young people and families.
Families represent 25% of the chain's activity, according to company data. “We help them adjust their budget with the option to cook in our establishments,” the executive noted. Another 25% comes from trips by young people and student groups. In the case of the L'Hospitalet hotel, business travellers will also play a significant role due to its proximity to the exhibition centre.
Meininger's next step in Spain will be the opening of a hotel in Madrid, next to Retiro Park, scheduled for 2028. Additionally, the company is already exploring new locations in Valencia, Bilbao, Málaga, or Seville, as well as in Portugal. “Barcelona is the beginning of our Iberian strategy,” Menon summarised. Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom are also among the expansion targets.
The CEO wanted to distance geopolitical uncertainty as a factor that could affect demand during the summer and expressed confidence that the hotel in L'Hospitalet will serve to assess the potential of the southern European market. “We want to be the affordable leisure option in the city centre,” he concluded.
Menon's speech echoes that of Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, who always argues that his airline has democratized air travel. Meininger aspires to do the same in the hotel sector, offering economical rates that allow a broader audience to travel.
With this opening, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat adds a new hotel asset in its Fira Gran Via area, a zone that concentrates a significant accommodation offer for attendees of fairs and congresses. Residents and visitors to the city will now have a more affordable option for staying near the exhibition centre.
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