New hotel concept - YOTEL - to be unveiled at ATM 2006

YOTEL, an unusual hotel concept, will be the one of the many highlights of the Middle East’s leading travel and tourism show, ATM (Arabian Travel Market) 2006 that will be held in Dubai from May 2 to 5, 2006. A prototype of the radical YOTEL project will be unveiled at the event for the first time in the Middle East.

YOTEL was created by YO! Everything founder Simon Woodroffe and YOTEL CEO Gerard Greene. The idea originally came to Simon after he was upgraded into first-class on a British Airways flight to the Middle East, and he decided to translate the language of luxury airline travel into a small capsule-style hotel, which Gerard Greene evolved into today’s reality.

Woodroffe said, “YOTEL is poised to take the hospitality industry by storm, and ATM 2006 is Dubai’s first opportunity to see what the big deal is. I am really excited to be showcasing YOTEL in Dubai for the first time. After more than three years of hard work, we have created a totally new concept, which has the potential to transform the hotel industry forever. It really took a quantum leap to create what we believe offers travellers aspirational luxury at an affordable price.”

YOTEL, a cross between Japanese capsule hotels and business-class air travel, will open its first two ‘cabin’ hotels at London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports in September 2006, following a major investment by IFA Hotels & Resorts. At London Heathrow, a 40-cabin YOTEL will open within Terminal 4, while at London Gatwick, a 50-cabin YOTEL will open within the South Terminal building, following a unique agreement with the British Airport Authorities (BAA).

Woodroffe is the creator of the worldwide restaurant phenomenon YO! Sushi and is a well-known entrepreneur from the UK following a stint as a ‘dragon’ on the popular UK BBC2 television series, ‘The Dragons’ Den’ where aspiring entrepreneurs vie for support from established business people. He and Gerard Greene will travel from London to take part in the ATM 2006 and showcase their groundbreaking venture.

Greene said, “With YOTEL, we want to shake things up in the travel industry. It is all about thinking outside the box and creating a value-for-money, yet high-design, hip product that travellers desire. YOTEL will be the iPod of the hotel industry.”

The YOTEL hotel prototype will be on show at the IFA Hotels & Resorts’ Stand 3410 throughout ATM 2006 from May 2 to 5.

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