Despite the challenges of the pandemic and economic downturn, EasyFlat, the operator of Slagsta Gate Hotel, has remained steady.
The hotel in Slagsta is now expanding with over 50 new rooms.
– I feel pride and great joy in how far we’ve come, says Mikael Lundström, CEO of EasyFlat.
The past five years have been tough for the hotel industry. While competitors have pulled back, Slagsta Gate Hotel has taken a different path – expanding its operations by 40% in May 2020. And the hotel in southern Stockholm continues to grow. The new expansion will add capacity for another 200 guests.
– One of our competitors previously operated part of their business in the space next to ours in Slagsta, says Mikael Lundström. When they were forced to shut down, I saw a great opportunity to take over their former premises.
Until now, Slagsta Gate Hotel has primarily offered twin rooms. The new rooms are larger, allowing the hotel to also offer four-bed rooms. Since the space EasyFlat is taking over was already adapted for apartment-style hotel use, Slagsta Gate Hotel expects to start accepting bookings for the new section as early as June.
– We’re cleaning it out and freshening things up, installing new room number signage, and integrating our own surveillance system in the corridors. Other than that, there’s not much more needed before we can welcome guests to the new section, says Mikael Lundström.
EasyFlat’s primary customer base consists of companies in the construction industry, a sector highly sensitive to economic trends and EU policy decisions.
So why are you choosing to invest when others are leaving the industry?
– First of all, I think it’s important to acknowledge that we are living in uncertain times. But we’ve seen a slight upturn recently.
At the same time, Mikael sees several reasons to be optimistic about EasyFlat’s future – including the upcoming national election.
With unemployment around ten percent and a central bank unlikely to significantly lower interest rates, the responsibility for jumpstarting the economy falls on the government. And the government has essentially one tool: infrastructure investments. That makes our operations in Slagsta – right by the E4 motorway, with excellent connections both north and south – ideal for our customers.
