Accor expands JO&JOE portfolio through Aken Ecosystèmes partnership

Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, and Aken Ecosystèmes, a mission-driven developer and operator of social and educational infrastructure, have entered into a strategic partnership that will reshape the landscape of student accommodation and urban hospitality in France.

The partnership commits to developing a minimum of 10 student accommodation and hybrid hospitality projects across France, with four flagship locations already confirmed in Chessy–Val d’Europe, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Reims. All properties will be operated under the JO&JOE brand, marking a significant evolution for the brand. The first project, in Chessy–Val d’Europe, is expected to open in 2028.

Jointly designed by Aken Ecosystèmes and JO&JOE, this innovative hybrid accommodation model combines student housing, hotel, and hostel within a single concept centered around the brand’s signature vibrant energy and social programming. One part of the hybrid concept will be a JO&JOE, welcoming guests all year round – the second part of the project will be dedicated to student accommodation during term time and serve local and visiting communities the rest of the year.

Market Innovation: A new model of mixed-use student and urban living

France faces a well-documented student housing crisis, with demand far outstripping supply in major university cities. Simultaneously, post-pandemic hospitality trends show growing demand for flexible, community-oriented accommodation, evolving traditional hotel models.

This partnership responds to both challenges by creating spaces that blend student residences with flexible short-term accommodation, served by JO&JOE’s signature flexible lodging and vibrant, inclusive atmosphere. The model represents a fundamental rethinking of how educational infrastructure, hospitality, and community spaces can converge.

Aken Ecosystèmes’ flagship concept, the “hypercampus” represents a new generation of learning and student living environments: mixed-use, service-oriented, and experiential spaces where students, businesses, associations, and local residents come together to exchange knowledge and build community.

The next-generation hybrid JO&JOE concept unites student living with JO&JOE’s unique blend of hotel, hostel, and social spaces, creating vibrant, multi-generational communities within Aken’s hypercampus ecosystem, marking a new chapter for JO&JOE.

“These developments will remain true to JO&JOE’s intentionally unconventional and free-spirited DNA, offering dynamic shared spaces centered around dining and urban culture. That distinctiveness is what will define this partnership. At a time of student housing shortages and growing isolation among younger generations, this type of lively hybrid hospitality is a compelling alternative. Flexible, accessible, and open, the next-generation JO&JOE fully supports Aken Ecosystèmes’ mission and the purpose of our hypercampuses: fostering interaction across diverse communities,” explains Rémi Ehrhart, co-founder of Aken Ecosystèmes and CEO of Ynov Campus.

“JO&JOE goes beyond traditional lodging by offering vibrant communal areas designed for social interaction, making it a perfect fit for student hypercampuses. Our partnership with Aken Ecosystèmes enables us to reimagine accommodation to create a unique living environment that combines student housing with JO&JOE’s hybrid hospitality concept. This marks a new way of living and studying, that is centered on community,” adds François Leclerc, SVP Emerging Brands Acceleration Hub at Accor.

First Project: Val d’Europe Hypercampus (Opening 2028)

The inaugural development in Val d’Europe in Chessy, near Paris spans 19,000 m² and includes:

• 9,100 m² education and coworking facilities
• 9,990 m² next-generation JO&JOE featuring:
• 156 hotel rooms
• 113 student apartments (179 rooms total)
• 650 m² social hub with bar, restaurant, and event spaces
• 90 m² seminar room
• Flexible accommodation solutionsDesigned for short- to long-term stays, the spaces serve:

Designed for short- to long-term stays, the spaces serve:

• Students: Private or shared apartments with flexible multi-month leases
• Travelers & Families: Dormitory-style to private rooms
• Professionals: Meeting facilities and coworking access

“By bringing together students, professionals, residents and services within a single ecosystem, we make the hypercampus a fully inhabited living space all year-round – a true community,” concludes Rémi Ehrhart.

“This partnership represents a bold evolution for JO&JOE; together we’re redefining what hospitality and student living can be,” added François Leclerc.

Founded in 2022, Aken Ecosystèmes develops and operates social and educational infrastructure, leveraging extensive expertise in both project development and user experience. The company maintains control over both the physical asset and its financial flows, committing long-term alongside its co-investors.