We aspire to grow in every sense... our performance, our portfolio and as people.

Matt Luscombe

From pioneers of extended-stay to innovative, multi-segment, pan-European hoteliers.

Cycas began with a focus on the emerging extended-stay hotel sector in Europe. Our journey began with the Staybridge Suites Liverpool, IHG’s first extended stay hotel outside of North America.

In the years that followed, we’ve established a reputation for excellence with guests, employees, investment partners and brands, with innovation part of our DNA. We opened the first European ‘double-decker’ hotels for IHG, Marriott and Hyatt, as well as partnering to launch the ‘and Suites’ brand extensions for Radisson and Holiday Inn Express.

Our job is to help our people develop along their journey with Cycas. Proprietary programmes such as our Cyfari training & development scheme help us shape high-performings teams from exceptional individuals, and our award-winning P&C team build a culture rooted in our core values – growth, integrity, fun and teamwork.

With the backing of our majority shareholder, Hua Kee, a family-owned Thai conglomerate, we’ve substantially broadened our horizons, establishing the strongest and most diverse hotel management platform in Europe, with best-in-class hotel support teams and a suite of proprietary Commercial and Financial tools and systems.

With operations in twelve countries and with six global brand partners, we manage hotels from select-service to full-service, boutique, luxury, independent, extended stay and serviced apartments, partnering with a wide range of investment partners on the basis of hotel management agreements, co-investments and leases.

In our second decade, we remain true to our values and culture, focussed on inspiring and developing the strongest hotel talent in Europe. Our commitment to talent enabled us to continue outperforming during the pandemic, positioning the company strongly for growth in the coming years.

Our Story
2010

Our Origins

Cycas was founded by entrepreneurs, John Wagner and Eduard Elias, in 2008 and by 2010, Cycas had both opened its first hotel, the Staybridge Suites Liverpool and established a culture within Cycas that remains cherished today.

 

A combination of the unique, ‘like-family’ service ethos of extended stay, together with heartfelt Liverpudlian warmth, set Cycas Hospitality firmly on a path for wider success.

 

 

 

 

 

2012

London Olympics

Cycas partnered with IHG, sponsors of the London Olympic Games, to open their flagship Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites, overlooking the Olympic Park in Stratford.

 

The hotels were used as a base for British Swimming and the Paralympics Committee. They were IHG’s first ‘double-decker’ property in Europe, a milestone Cycas would go on to repeat in the years to come with both Marriott and Hyatt.

2017

Broadening Horizons

Building on its substantial expertise in the extended-stay sector, strong employer brand and hard-earned reputation for service excellence, Cycas broadened its ambitions.

 

With new funding from Thai investment partner, Hua Kee, Cycas set out a strategy to become a pan-European management platform, covering all sectors of hospitality across major European markets.

2018

European Expansion

Cycas opened its first hotels in continental Europe, the Residence Inn and Moxy in Amsterdam. These hotels also served as Cycas’ new headquarters, capitalising on the hospitality expertise, language skills, transport connections and international mindset of the Netherlands.

 

Cycas’ reputation as the hospitality sector’s employer of choice was cemented with recognition as Caterer Magazine’s Hospitality Employer of the Year. Cycas went on to rank in the top-30 for five, consecutive years (2018-22), a unique feat among independent management companies.

2019

New Leadership

Cycas’ founders stepped back, with Hua Kee taking a majority shareholding in the company, and Cycas welcomed its first CEO, Matt Luscombe, a former senior executive with IHG, tasked with scaling the business and establishing Europe’s leading hospitality team.

 

With Hua Kee’s support, Cycas has been able to expand its business model to include co-investment, leases and other creative approaches to best meet the needs of our investment partners.

2021

Accelerating Growth

Cycas began expanding rapidly, doubling in size by opening or taking-over 17 hotels in 15 months between 2020 and 2021.

 

Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, Cycas opened its first hotels in France, Germany and Belgium, and made its first signings in Switzerland and Denmark.

 

 

2022

Landmark Partnerships

Cycas continued its rapid expansion, announcing a landmark partnership with InterGlobe Enterprises, one of India’s leading companies, to operate its portfolio of European hotels, including ten K+K properties and the iconic Reichshof Hotel in Hamburg. The partnership cemented Cycas’ pan-European credentials, expanding the company’s operations to more than six thousand rooms in twelve countries.

 

The takeover of the Bankside Hotel in Central London, a spectacular member of the Autograph Collection, further established Cycas’ credibility as a full-service management company, operating hotels ranging from select service to extended stay to boutique to luxury.

2023

Cycas cemented its position as Europe’s leading hotel management company, reaching the twin milestones of 50 hotels and 8,000 rooms under management.

 

New additions included the 25 Hours Gare du Nord, a new flagship for Cycas in the centre of Paris and the 450-room Radisson Hotel & Suites Zurich.

2010
2012
2017
2018
2019
2021
2022
2023
Meet the team
Matt Luscombe
Chief Executive Officer
Rosa Ceparano
Chief Financial Officer
Julia Harnischfeger
Chief Operating Officer,
Continental Europe
Keith Griffiths
Chief Operating Officer,
UK & Ireland
Craig Patterson
Chief Development Officer
Neetu Mistry
Chief Commercial Officer
Janet Roberts
Chief People & Culture Officer
Jelle Martens
General Counsel & Company Secretary
growing fast, across Europe
12
Today, we operate across 12 European countries, with more than 800 Cycadette team members.
8000
Our teams operate 8,000 rooms at 50+ hotels across the UK and continental Europe.
15
We work with the world's leading hospitality brands including Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Accor, Radisson and Hyatt.
Opportunities to Grow Together

At Cycas, we’re committed to helping our teams develop, and have shaped our internal growth programme, Cyfari, to ensure sustained career progression for our employees.

 

Alongside our workplace initiatives within the Age Diversity forum and work within Springboard, we’re continuing to find new ways to grow as a responsible business.

 

As a Carefree Breakmaker, Cycas Hospitality donates a portion of our unsold rooms to charity, providing carers at risk of burn‑out with valuable down time so they can recharge and continue their vital role.  Our hotel teams pride themselves on the roles they play in their communities, across a range of valuable social and ethical causes.

 

Cycas Hospitality is regularly recognised among the leading employers in the hospitality industry, and we are proud of the engagement and loyalty of our team.  Enshrined within our company values is a commitment to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

 

We provide equality, fairness and respect for all our Cycadettes, with a range of part & full-time contracts giving our teams flexibility within their work and life commitments.

@cycas.hospitality

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