Launched in 1990 and led by Georges Sampeur, who developed and strengthened the concept, B&B HOTELS has enjoyed double-digit growth worldwide for many years. The group's team, led by CEO Fabrice Collet, has now set itself a new challenge.

Just over 30 years ago, we launched our first brand. Millions of customers enjoy our hotels. The family continues to grow. From the outset, we have catered for very simple and universal needs that concern all profiles of people, whatever their reasons for travelling. A smile, a good bed, good soundproofing, good WIFI, and when you slam the door in the morning to leave, another smile’.

‘For several years now, we've been asking ourselves what needs were not covered. The answer was medium and long stays. When you stay in a hotel for several days, you may need to eat somewhere other than a restaurant, for example. This led to the creation of B&B HOME.

Vincent Quandalle, the new director of the B&B HOME brand, adds:

I'd like to thank Fabrice for giving us this challenge. We managed to open the first B&B HOME in 6 months. We started with a blank page and a blank hotel. Because it belonged to a union that prioritised functionality over aesthetics.

In this hotel, 31 rooms are equipped with kitchenettes [out of 139], there is a shared kitchen, a laundry and plenty of space to get together.

It's a place to live. We want B&B HOME hotels to be totally integrated into their environment.

Saguez and Partners, which has been based in Saint-Ouen for 20 years, assisted B&B HOTELS with the development of this project. Virginie Parisot, partner:

B&B HOTELS has never ceased to innovate, and was well placed to respond to these new needs. B&B and the city were made for each other. Saint-Ouen's enormous asset is its human dimension and its CSR commitments.

Sophie Donabedian, Chief Sustainability Officer, who developed the concept alongside Vincent Quandalle, talks about how it came about.

In this concept, we wanted to combine sobriety and pleasure. Etymologically, ecology comes from the Greek word Oikos, meaning house. It's true that we protect better what is familiar to us. We want our customers and teams to feel at home.

We have connected the site with many local players. Being local brings sobriety and a lot of pleasure. We wanted to support the initiatives undertaken and we are playing our part by accompanying them.

Our customers and employees have high expectations in terms of CSR.

In less than a year, we have created a product in which sustainability is one of the fundamental pillars.

Vincent Quandalle and Sophie Donabedian specify that each future B&B HOME will be unique, but will be based on several fundamentals that will be common to all the establishments.

• Yes to second chances, with priority given to re-use,
• No to single-use plastic,
• Yes to organic and local products,
• Yes to economical use of resources and low-impact materials,
• Yes to customer involvement with a touch of humour,
• Yes to openness, inclusion and local connections.

The first establishment was opened in Saint-Ouen and in mandate by a B&B HOTELS intrapreneur Chtioui El Kabdani, who grew up within the group. It was transformed while the hotel remained in operation.

Karim Bouamrane, Mayor of Saint-Ouen: ‘I felt a shock when I came here. When you're in a position of responsibility, it's complicated to have a shared vision. This one was about shared progress. This place is about beauty. As well as being beautiful, this place helps to make people happy. As mayor, I'm proud to be here. When you come to B&B, you don't just live your life, you choose it. The feeling of belonging is extremely important. Thank you for the respect you've given us.

A number of local initiatives are being showcased at this first B&B HOME:

Local & Vous, based in Saint-Ouen, will be supplying some of the products for the in-house shop. The Re-Belle association, which helps to reintegrate staff who are far from employment and uses unsold goods, will supply the establishment with jams. Women entrepreneurs supported by the Meet My Mama association will be able to use the establishment's shared kitchen for research and development. In another example, the Graffart association has created two frescoes to decorate the outside walls of the building.

Ambitions for B&B HOME

Vincent Quandalle expects average daily rates to exceed B&B HOTELS rates, by around €20 to €30, including for medium and long stays.

4 to 5 B&B HOME properties will soon be launched, with several independent partners in the Paris region keen to roll out the product. To date, the projects to be launched are all located inside the A86 motorway.

The B&B HOME concept will initially be rolled out under a management mandate. Once it has stabilised, it may also be launched as a franchise.