At an extremely challenging time for the French hotel industry, Okko Hotels has taken advantage of reduced business levels to develop its services, working to master the tricky balancing act between conviviality and social distancing, and is now looking forward to better days ahead.
NEW FOOD OFFERINGS
Okko Hotels is now offering light food options at each of its establishments. All customers, whether staying at the hotel or not, can choose from an à la carte selection of salads, quiches and sharing platters, available at lunchtime and from 8pm.
This new food selection is offered in addition to an optional breakfast (€14) and our evening aperitivo, served between 6:30pm and 8pm.
This indispensable fixture has been redesigned to offer the same levels of generosity and quality in the form of small plates that comply with the new health measures.
CSR AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT THE HEART OF OUR PRIORITIES
Reflecting the convictions of its founder and staff members, respect for and preservation of the environment have always been at the heart of the group’s concerns. The health crisis has only served to underline the importance of keeping things local and has focused our minds on environmental issues.
At Okko Hotels, 20% of purchases by value are made locally, individual bars of soap have been replaced by larger containers, the PET bottles distributed at the Club have been replaced by Castalie water fountains, and all consumables are now 100% accredited by ECOCERT.
“Sustainable development has always been a key issue for Okko Hotels. The health crisis has only served to confirm that our intuition to keep it local is correct, so we’re going to focus even more on this approach. At the same time, the health crisis has also disrupted certain initiatives that we’ve put in place over many years to reduce waste. We’re now going to have to find new and inventive ways of combining environmental and health measures!” says Solenne Ojea-Devys.
TWO NEW HOTEL OPENINGS IN 2021
Following the opening of its tenth establishment in Toulon at the start of last summer, Okko Hotels is preparing to open new hotels in Lille in April and Nice in June.
Okko Lille is part of an extensive development project that also includes office space, shops and a car park. The hotel will offer 120 guest rooms, a fitness area, a Club and an open-air terrace across 3,000 m² of floor space. It is located on the Rue de Béthune, one of the most beautiful pedestrian streets in Lille’s historic and commercial centre, under 150 m from the Grand'Place, 300 m from the Place de la République and 400 m from the Lille Flandres railway station.
Okko Nice is a 135-room hotel with 2 meeting spaces, located 5 minutes from the airport. Perched on the top floor of the hotel, the Club features a bar open to guests and external customers alike.
“Our focus on France’s regions is paying off, our hotels that have proved most resilient during the health crisis have been those located in medium-sized cities, such as our establishments in Toulon and Bayonne. We can’t wait for these two new openings,” says Solenne Ojea-Devys.
PRIORITY GIVEN TO JOB RETENTION
Okko Hotels has retained 99% of its staff positions thanks to its implementation of the partial unemployment scheme, the opening of new establishments and a reclassification plan involving certain head office functions in the hotels.
In 2020, the group also provided training to 100% of its teams. It is currently developing a training school that will offer courses paving the way for years of professional development for applicants demonstrating specific profiles.
“Olivier first had the idea for Okko Hotels at the height of the financial crisis in 2008. The Covid crisis, although an unprecedented challenge, will not spell the end for the hotel industry. We’re determined to fight on and to stay the course until better days return, while spurring our staff on to improved performance levels and continuing to imagine the hotels of tomorrow. We will have openings in Lille in May, in Nice this summer and in La Défense in the summer of 2022, presenting wonderful new opportunities for our employees,” says Solenne Ojea-Devys, Deputy Managing Director of the Okko Hotels Group.
PRESS CONTACT:
French Flair PR
Julie DREAN
julie@frenchflairpr.com
+33 (0)6 40 47 94 60
