The fast-growing Dublin-based aparthotel operator Staycity Group is set to take its successful concept to Portugal for the first time, with sites earmarked in Porto and Lisbon, both opening under the group’s premium Wilde Aparthotels by Staycity brand.
With 80 self-catering apartments in Porto and 95 in Lisbon, both Portuguese additions are scheduled to open towards the end of 2024 offering studio and one-bed apartments with kitchen facilities, dining and sitting areas, coffee shop and gym alongside 24-hour reception and guest laundry room. The new destinations are expected to appeal to both business and leisure guests looking for design-led, chic interiors and great service coupled with Staycity’s signature home-from-home feel.
Staycity has opened a record number of properties over the past 12 months including Bordeaux, Heidelberg, Dublin Mark Street, London Aldgate and London Paddington in 2021. This year Staycity opened properties in Dublin, Frankfurt, Manchester and Paris with another site in Dublin still to open taking the company to a total of 6,000 apartments across 32 locations.
Said Staycity CEO Tom Walsh: “We’re delighted to be opening in these popular Portuguese destinations and to be taking our Wilde brand into another of our European target regions alongside those already operating in Germany and the UK.”
Staycity’s business strategy is to open primarily new-build properties in ‘powerhouse’ cities with strong leisure and business demand and good travel links. Porto, in the northwest of Portugal is one of Europe’s most popular cities to visit and an important commercial and industrial centre. Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, is a trendy, young destination said to be a top choice for digital nomads.
“Careful forecasting and refinancing meant we emerged from the pandemic ready to crack on with our expansion,” added Walsh.
“This year our like-for-like sales are back up to 2019 levels, so recovery has happened more quickly than we anticipated. Leisure stays have come back and we are seeing signs of corporate business returning, although challenges do still remain such as supply issues, labour shortages and the impact of the war in the Ukraine.”
The company recently opened a sixth Staycity Aparthotel in France, in La Défense, the vibrant business area in the North-West of Paris. The new-build property is the Staycity’s third in Paris with another scheduled to open next year at Roissy Airport.
