European Coffee Retailer Julius Meinl Seeks Riches by Creating a Hotel Brand
Skift Take
European consumer goods brand House of Julius Meinl aims to open 15 Julius apartment hotels in the next few years. The effort is a litmus test for other premium-goods brands seeking diversification.
Early Check-In
Editor’s Note: Skift Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill brings readers exclusive reporting and insights into hotel deals and development, and how those trends are making an impact across the travel industry.House of Julius Meinl, which sells premium consumer goods and coffee primarily in Central Europe, has been branching into premium apartment hotels.
The Vienna, Austria-based brand — a 158-year-old retailer of coffee and gourmet foods — plans to open 15 properties, with a total of about 2,000 guest rooms, within six years.In July, it opened its first aparthotel, Julius Prague. The 168-room property is fully owned by the company. It has a 9.5 out of 10 rating on Booking.comJulius Meinl's effort is a litmus test for other premium-goods brands that might create hotel brands as both retailers and hospitality seek new avenues for long-term expansion.Retailers are following a path pioneered by fashion brands. This path has sometimes worked seemingly well, such as Bulgari Hotels (a partnership between the jewelry house a