Ruby Hotels announces first hotel project in Italy
- Munich
- 01 October 2021
For Ruby Hotels, led by founder and CEO Michael Struck, it will soon be "Ciao Bella Italia". The first Italy-based Lean Luxury Hotel of the Munich-based group is being built in the middle of the Tuscan capital, Florence. The 19th century building will have 118 rooms, a bar with café, a cosy terrace in the inner courtyard and its own workspace.
"We are very excited to enter the Italian market with this great project and bring our Lean Luxury philosophy to Southern Europe," says Julian Mörs, Group Director Development at Ruby. "By designing and building modularly, centralising more and automating consistently behind the scenes, we are making luxurious and unique hotel experiences affordable for our guests, while creating a leaner and more adaptable cost structure, which in turn means lower risks for our property partners. Benefits like these set us apart from other competitors and support our development activities, especially in unpredictable times."
The future Ruby Hotel is located directly on Piazza della Libertà, in the northern part of the historic centre. The old town district of San Marco, with its world-famous museums and botanical gardens, is in the immediate vicinity, and the famous Palazzo Medici Riccardi and the Fortezza da Basso are also just a 10-minute walk away.
The hotel is being built in a historic building from the 19th century and - in addition to the typical Florentine arcades on the ground floor - offers exceptional high ceilings, allowing for some of the rooms to be designed as maisonettes: an exciting first for Ruby. The renovation of the historic building is under the direction of Florentine architects 'Genius Loci Architettura', with the interior design by Ruby's own design team, led by Matthew Balon. The building that will be leased to the Ruby Group is owned by the GB Holding Group, a real estate investor active on the Italian market, who will contribute towards the refurbishments. The Parties have been advised by Progenia S.p.A. The legal advice for Ruby was provided by Osborne Clarke, while GB Holding Group was represented by SLVB International Legal Services.
Following Austria, Germany, the UK, Switzerland and Ireland, Italy is the sixth European country into which Ruby is expanding. In Florence, too, Ruby will follow the company's Lean Luxury philosophy: a location in the heart of the city, with top design, and high-quality furnishings with just the essentials. All at an affordable price, by stripping back on the superfluous and non-essentials.
The hotel is scheduled to open in Q3/2023.
About Ruby Hotels: The Munich-based Ruby Group under the leadership of founder and CEO Michael Struck is breaking new ground with its Lean Luxury philosophy. With a lean organisational structure and concentration on the essentials, Ruby succeeds in creating a contemporary, affordable form of luxury for modern, cost and style-conscious customers. Founded in 2013, the Group already operates twelve Ruby hotels, with a further 19 hotels under construction or in the planning phase. Ruby is expanding into Asia with the joint venture Ruby Asia, founded in 2018. Ruby also offers Ruby Workspaces in Munich, Hamburg and Dusseldorf. Perfectly equipped workplaces and a creative atmosphere with access to an inspiring office community. Financially strong partners support Ruby’s expansion. ECE Group; the Austrian Soravia Group; Franger Investment, a German family office; Ocean Link, a private equity fund; the entrepreneur Michael Hehn and Michael Struck jointly hold the company shares.
