Budget lifestyle hotel brand LyLo looking to expand into London

Jan 14, 2025

LyLo, part of EVT, has kickstarted the expansion of its social travel experience focused on helping savvy, cost-conscious travellers experience the joy of travel in affordable style, offering multi-purpose spaces to play, eat, work and sleep. EVT has chosen London as the potential location of its first European property.

Appointed as sole agent, P-THREE, the retail, leisure and placemaking agency, is initially focused on potential sites in Southwark, although other central locations will be considered. LyLo is looking for buildings of 25,000 to 50,000 sq ft to transform into innovative budget accommodation which could include office or retail conversion projects or appropriate basement space.

Launched in 2022, LyLo is part of EVT, a major Australian operator of cinemas, hotels, restaurants and an alpine resort, with over 80 hotels in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. LyLo already has operational assets in Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch, New Zealand, and Brisbane, Australia, comprising 608 pods, 40 private rooms, 170 ensuite rooms and four F&B venues. Two further Australian properties in Gold Coast and Fremantle are in the pipeline.

Fun and communal, the LyLo concept is aimed at solo travellers, groups aged 18-35, digital nomads, sports groups and families, providing budget friendly accommodation in a design-led and customer-centric setting with onsite coworking, social and wellness spaces. LyLo has a proven track record, with strong results across all properties, especially Auckland where the hotel is regularly the most booked property on Booking.com by room nights in the city (monthly).In 2024, LyLo Auckland experience was acknowledged as the ‘Best Hostel’ at the famed Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTAs). This is the inaugural time that an Australasian brand has won this category.

LyLo’s premium pod experience typically provide a compact space that includes a bed, a secure space to store belongings and often shared amenities such as bathrooms, dining areas and entertainment spaces. LyLo elevates their offering with a focus on security and privacy, as well as modern amenities in their pods such as lights, fans and chargers. LyLo’s accommodation offering also extends to private rooms with shared amenities, and ensuite rooms.

Thomas Rose, Co-founder at P-THREE, commented: “This style of hotel -has proven to be a game-changer in the hospitality space, especially for younger, budget-conscious travellers who often prioritise unique experiences and dynamic, social environments over traditional hotel offerings. With its large and vibrant visitor base, London is the perfect starting point for expansion and we’re confident that their innovative approach and design-led concept will resonate well in this market. We look forward to working with them to bring it to life.”

Tim Alpe, Managing Director at LyLo, commented: “We are thrilled to introduce LyLo to London as the perfect city to launch our first property. Our award-winning and game-changing social travel experience, a concept that has already proven successful in New Zealand and Australia, and so we are confident we have the right formula for the London market. London’s dynamic and diverse traveller base makes it an ideal location to begin this exciting new chapter, and we look forward to finding the right location for LyLo’s fresh approach to hospitality to the city.

–ENDS–

For media enquiries, please contact:
FTI Consulting, for P-THREE
Giles Barrie / Mike Reilly / Andrew Davis
p-three@fticonsulting.com
+44 (0)20 3727 1000

Member snapshot

LyLo is a new way to stay – a game-changing complete social travel experience for travellers on a budget. LyLo is breaking the mould in the budget travel market thanks to its style-led, social and value mind-set.

LyLo Expands to Brisbane, bringing innovative pod accommodation and community spaces