Yotel checks in at Heathrow en route to global expansion

The ever-expanding London Heathrow Airport is to house its first Yotel, the hotel concept created by Yo! Sushi founder Simon Woodroffe, following the brand’s launch at Gatwick Airport earlier this year.

The capsule hotel, inspired by first-class airline cabins, will launch with 32 cabins at Terminal 4 today.

It is based on a concept design by Priestman Goode. But the architect The Manser Practice and design consultancy Conran & Partners developed the production model of the premium cabin, and then designed and developed the standard cabin.

Woodroffe came up with the idea after he was upgraded to first class on a flight. He decided to translate the language of luxury airline travel and Japanese capsule hotels into a small, but luxurious cabin.

According to a spokeswoman for Yotel, the design of the Heathrow hotel will remain the same as Gatwick’s capsule concept. There are plans to extend the brand globally, with a Yotel at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport opening early next year and other destinations in the pipeline. Design information is yet to be revealed for the global launches.

Cabins are either premium double or standard large single, with en-suite bathrooms, in-cabin entertainment and 24-hour room service. Prices for a standard cabin range from £25 for four hours to £56 overnight. A premium cabin will cost from £40 for four hours and from about £82 overnight.

Yotel opened its first hotel inside Gatwick’s South Terminal in June, and the Heathrow and Schiphol launches follow a major investment by Kuwait-based IFA Hotels & Resorts.