Inter Ikea, the company behind the Scandinavian furniture giant, is making a move into the hospitality industry with a planned 100 budget hotels, the first two of which should open in Germany some time in 2014. The hotels will fall under the purview of Ikea's property division and Harold Muller, project manager for Inter Ikea, has informed news outlets that the hotels won't carry Ikea's name or even their furniture, but that they will operate with the same philosophy of "good quality at a reasonable price."
IKEA store — Photo courtesy of Seth Werkheiser
So without the familiar do-it-yourself flat-pack furniture Ikea is known for, what can you expect from this boutique hotel line? While details remain scarce, the hotels' interiors will be designed by Nordic designers, giving them a Scandinavian feel. Parent company Inter Ikea already owns a few hotels in Europe, and they plan to work with an as yet unnamed, but established hotel company to operate their new chain. Expect an official announcement of the name in September. After Germany, Ikea plans to expand the chain into the UK, Poland, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands.
If a hotel stay isn't enough to get your Ikea fix, you'll soon be able to live in a mini Ikea world all the time. The company has recently teamed up with architectural firm Ideabox to design and manufacture prefabricated one-bedroom homes furnished with Ikea gear. The expected selling price will set you back around $86,500.
