Tom Walsh, co-founder and CEO of the successful Dublin-based aparthotel operator Staycity Group has this week been awarded a top industry accolade at the Serviced Apartment News Awards, held in London yesterday [14 March 2019].
Tom, pictured left with Staycity COO Keith Freeman, was presented with the ‘Industry Inspiration’ award at a dinner attended by over 350 business leaders. He was praised by the judges for growing Staycity from just one apartment in Dublin’s Temple Bar in 2004 to a company with over 7,000 apartments [operational and pipeline] in just 15 years, whilst keeping a strong focus on quality standards and customer service levels across the estate.
The privately-owned Staycity now operates across 10 European destinations, has a turnover in excess of €70m and employs over 500 people, making it one of Dublin’s biggest success stories.
Throughout its continuing growth Staycity has kept its concept relevant and contemporary for today’s travellers by innovating its design and facilities as well as the addition of a second premium brand, Wilde Aparthotels by Staycity, which was launched in London last year.
The company’s larger Staycity Aparthotel properties now boast cafés, gyms, meeting rooms and guest lounges. Later this year Staycity will open its first resort-style property on the outskirts of Paris.
“This industry award means a huge amount to me personally,” commented Tom. “It’s also a huge acknowledgement of how far we have come as a company and as a team and the impact our two brands have made and continue to make. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who voted for me to win this award.”
In the same awards the company was shortlisted in the ‘Best Property’ category for its Wilde Aparthotels by Staycity, London, The Strand, and for ‘Best Operator (201+ unit)’, a category the company won in 2018.
Aparthotels have become the go-to alternative for leisure and business travellers looking for a more relaxed place to stay than a hotel with facilities they are likely to use such as a laundry room, guest lounge, café, gym and car park. Staycity Aparthotels, either studio, one- or two-bed, come with well-fitted kitchens enabling guests to prepare their own food and drink.
Staycity, which aims to operate some 15,000 apartments by 2023, will this year open new properties in Paris, Berlin, Venice, Edinburgh and Manchester. The company recently announced the acquisition of a former theatre site on Francis Street in Dublin, which will open in 2020 as a 242-bed Staycity Aparthotel together with restaurants, shops and an exhibition centre.
A second major deal will see the company open 248 apartments under its Wilde Aparthotels brand in London’s Paddington as part of a €231m, 620-room hotel and aparthotel complex. [Ends]
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About Staycity
Award-winning Staycity Group is a privately held company based in Dublin established in 2004 by CEO Tom Walsh and his brother Ger. The company has since become Europe’s leading independent aparthotel operator, offering quality short-term and long-term aparthotel lettings in 10 central city locations across Europe. The properties operate under the Staycity Aparthotels brand and its premium Wilde Aparthotels by Staycity brand.
Staycity’s aparthotels appeal to both business and leisure travellers who are looking for a more user-friendly, cost-effective alternative to hotels. Staycity’s properties are made up of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments offering 24-hour reception, kitchens or kitchenettes, a dining area, sitting area and bathroom as well as complimentary Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TV, guest laundry facilities and weekly housekeeping. Most sites have car parking and many now offer a dry gym, guest lounge and café selling breakfast, all-day snacks and drinks.
The company’s fast-expanding estate now includes properties open in Birmingham (249 apartments), Dublin (228), Edinburgh (146), Liverpool (268), London (541), Lyon (144), Manchester (182), Marseille (108), Paris (50) and York (197). www.staycity.com.