MEININGER Hotels continues to grow

The European hotel group MEININGER Hotels is continuing its growth trajectory. Following another financial year* of positive developments, the company is now focusing on targeted investments in strategically important areas. With a clear digitalization strategy, extensive renovation efforts, and expansion into new markets, the company is underlining its role as an innovative player in the hybrid hotel segment.

Positive results, growth, and ambitious plans

MEININGER Hotels achieved solid year-on-year (yoy) growth, increasing total revenue to over 200 million EUR in the last financial year. Ajit Menon, CEO of MEININGER Hotels, is pleased with the overall performance: “We have been growing consistently for years, and we are proud of that. We welcomed 4.5 million overnight stays, driving a robust occupancy rate of close to 80 percent. A fantastic team effort!” With new openings planned and a strong pipeline ahead, MEININGER Hotels anticipates further revenue growth in the current financial year.

Expansion: entering the Spanish market

At the end of 2025, MEININGER Hotels will open its first property in Spain, marking a significant step in its European expansion. The new hotel with 162 rooms and 555 beds is located directly opposite the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via – one of Europe’s largest trade fair venues, hosting over 150 events annually. True to MEININGER’s motto “Step out and explore”, the location was chosen not only for its proximity to the exhibition center but for its excellent public transport connections. Further openings are already in the planning and implementation stages, as Ajit Menon confirms: “We are continuously expanding our portfolio with a strategic focus on Europe. Alongside the new opening in Barcelona, we’re currently preparing to re-enter the UK market with a hotel in Edinburgh. New properties are also underway in Kiel, Tel Aviv, and Strasbourg. Our strategy remains focused on organic growth.”

Renovations and modernizations

In the past financial year, several MEININGER properties in cities like Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Paris, and Hamburg underwent successful renovations. The modernization measures will continue in the current financial year, with additional properties scheduled for upgrades. By consistently investing in the quality and comfort of its hotels, MEININGER Hotels is reinforcing its commitment to guest satisfaction. Thomas Hagemann, COO at MEININGER Hotels, explains: “Our goal is to continuously improve the MEININGER portfolio and implement the current MEININGER standard across all existing properties. We constantly analyze our guests’ needs and identify new opportunities to optimize our offerings. For this reason, we regularly invest in the modernization of our properties and services.”

Digitalization as a growth driver

Furthermore, MEININGER views its ongoing digital transformation as a key factor for success. For example, last year the company introduced a self-service system for group bookings. Since then, major clients have been able to manage their bookings independently via a dedicated interface or a web booking portal. This has reduced the number of follow-up inquiries, accelerated processes and increased customer satisfaction. Three central initiatives are planned for the new financial year: With the introduction of a new cloud-based HR solution, the company will replace six existing systems with the aim of holistically optimizing HR processes and significantly enhancing the employer experience. In addition, MEININGER Hotels is implementing a centralized purchase ordering system and a new platform for invoice management to make procurement and supplier management more efficient. Guests will benefit from a new online web check-in, already available at selected locations, enabling a fully digital check-in experience before arrival. The roll-out will be completed across all MEININGER hotels by the end of summer 2025.

Strong HR performance, focus on diversity and sustainability

The continuous growth of MEININGER Hotels requires targeted strategies for attracting and retaining top talent. The hotel group is steadily strengthening its reputation as an employer of choice that supports professional development and sustainable growth. Particularly positive is the eight percent increase in employee retention rate in calendar year 2024 compared to 2023. In parallel, the number of job applications for 2025 has already significantly exceeded that of the previous year. A success largely attributed to focused efforts in employer branding and learning & development, such as the implementation of a new learning management system. MEININGER actively promotes a culture of diversity and is proud to report a nearly equal gender distribution within its workforce: 48.6 percent identify as female, 49.2 percent as male, while 2.2 percent either identified as non-binary or chose not to specify their gender. Another remarkable aspect is the international diversity, with staff representing 90 different nationalities.

Progress has been made in the field of sustainability as well. Following a new partnership with electric charging station provider Wirelane, six locations in Germany have initially been equipped with charging infrastructure. In addition, 34 of the 36 hotels are now powered entirely by green electricity. As part of its strategic sustainability approach, MEININGER conducted a double materiality analysis in 2024 in collaboration with an external consultancy. This involved systematically assessing both the impact of business activities on the environment and society, as well as relevant ESG risks and opportunities. The results form a central foundation for the further development of the company’s strategy and business model. The update of the group-wide carbon footprint is planned for 2025. The aim is to identify further reduction potential based on current data and to derive targeted measures for lowering emissions.

*The press release outlines the developments from financial year 2024 (April 2023 to March 2024) to financial year 2025 (April 2024 to March 2025).