The Original Pioneer of Hybrid Hospitality

Unless you’re from Amsterdam, you might not be familiar with Hotel Casa. What makes it so unique?

Hotel Casa is a trailblazer in hybrid hospitality and has been widely imitated by other successful Amsterdam hotels like Zoku, Social Hub, and CitizenM. But why hasn’t Hotel Casa expanded to other locations? Simply put, they don’t need to.

Founded in the late 1950s to address the student housing shortage, Hotel Casa operates as a non-profit and doesn’t face pressure from stakeholders to grow. Their hybrid model, combining hotel rooms with student housing, creates a diverse mix of people and generates additional revenue to support affordable student accommodation.

Student rooms are priced at about 500 Euros a month, which is very affordable for Amsterdam, resulting in a two-year waitlist. Hotel rooms range from 120 to 250 Euros per night. Despite being a non-profit with no aim to scale, Hotel Casa is a progressive design hotel employing smart strategies for success.

Here’s what sets them apart:

1. Large Inventory Management
Hotel Casa has 550 rooms—150 for guests and 350 for students, with separate entrances. During the summer, when students are on break, the number of student rooms is reduced to 50, allowing more space for hotel guests. Students can access common areas for guests, but guests can’t enter exclusive student areas like the games room, study area, or laundry room.

2. Profitable 24/7 Lobby Shop
Hotel Casa’s lobby shop stands out for its appeal and functionality. The General Manager revealed that water bottles are the best-selling item, even though the hotel promotes drinking Amsterdam tap water. Most sales occur between 10 pm and 3 am. The shop operates autonomously with self-service card payments, and an operating company restocks products. Hotel Casa receives 35% of the profits, with the remainder going to the operating company.

3. Meeting Spaces and Coworking
Hotel Casa emphasizes meeting rooms and coworking spaces. All meeting spaces have natural light and modern designs far superior to traditional conference hotels. Located on the first floor, these spaces blend seamlessly with the ground floor’s cafe/bar/restaurant, East. The hotel encourages people to work from their laptops in these areas. Students also have a dedicated quiet study area on the second floor, free from hotel guests and the obligation to buy food or drink.

4. Food and Beverage (F&B)
Hotel Casa benefits from an almost unlimited supply of affordable, last-minute F&B staff—students living in the hotel. The food menu is designed to be easily prepared by anyone. The rooftop bar Gaap has become a local hotspot, offering great marketing for the hotel. The East transforms throughout the day with transitional lighting, making it a cafe in the morning, a restaurant at lunch, and a trendy bar in the evening.

Hotel Casa’s innovative approach and commitment to their hybrid model make them a standout in the hospitality industry, combining practicality with a unique guest experience.