Media Release 16 May 2019
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Multi-Million Dollar US Expansion for Kiwi Pod Hotel Chain
An innovative Kiwi pod-hotel chain will expand into the United States in what its owners are describing as a significant
move for the company.
Jucy Snooze, a micro-accommodation provider which has more than 530 beds across its Auckland, Queenstown and
Christchurch locations, is New Zealand’s first hotel chain to offer pod-style rooms for budget conscious travellers.
Jucy has now signed a joint venture with a Los Angeles-based hotel developer to operate a Jucy Snooze hotel with more
than 220 pods under the ‘Stay Open’ brand in San Diego.
Jucy CEO Tim Alpe, says while the company already has campervan rental operations in the US, the proposed $16m San Diego
hotel will be the company’s first offshore accommodation expansion.
He says the company is also working with its US partner to open hotels in a number of other Southern California
locations including Hollywood and Santa Monica.
“The Jucy Snooze concept is about meeting the growing demand for budget accommodation as well as designing socially
interactive spaces for Millennial and Centennial [Generation Z] travellers who want to connect with others while they
travel.
“We have also created new technology to remove some of the traditional pain points which allow guests to manage their
own check-in process without needing to queue and access their rooms via a smart device.
“The US operators have visited our sites around New Zealand and have seen nothing else like it; they plan to expand the
Jucy Snooze concept throughout the US,” he says.
Alpe says the opportunity was developed after extensive research of the North American market which was facilitated by
NZTE.
He says the move will complement Jucy’s rental vehicle business in the US while providing opportunities to cross-sell
accommodation to their customer base expanding its hotel presence under the Stay Open brand.
Alpe says their move into the US is timely with a number of new players entering the micro-accommodation space.
The two storey, approximately 2000sqm Stay Open site is adjacent to the San Diego Airport and will have 226 pods plus six rooms with ensuites. The hotel will feature a
rooftop bar and restaurant and an app which supports social connection between guests, introduction to local events and
seamless ordering of food and beverages via their mobile device.
Earlier this week, Jucy launched a new fleet of fully electric rental campervans targeted at eco-conscious European
tourists to the New Zealand market.
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