NETHERLANDS-BASED CITIZENM HAS inaugurated its first hotel at Meta’s Menlo Park campus in California, marking its second U.S. opening this year after the launch of citizenM Miami Center. CitizenM currently operates 14 hotels in the U.S. and has plans for additional openings in 2024, including locations in Austin, Boston, and another in South Beach, Miami. The global hospitality company was founded by Rattan Chadha in 2015.
The five-story hotel, spanning 79,400 square feet, features 240 modular rooms, citizenM said. The brand’s modular design has not only reduced construction waste by up to 60 percent but has also shortened the development timeline by three to four months compared to traditional construction methods. The hotel at Meta’s Frank Gehry-designed headquarters campus has been designed by citizenM’s architectural partner, Baskervill.
“We’re excited to open in Menlo Park, a burgeoning tech hub,” said Robin Chadha, chief brand officer at citizenM. ” CitizenM, designed to seamlessly connect remote and in-person work with private nooks and versatile workspaces in our Living Rooms, along with societyM meeting rooms. This dynamic property will provide a unique experience for Meta employees and mobile citizens in the area.”
Rattan Chadha is the executive chairman of citizenM.
The hotel offers facilities like an indoor-outdoor lobby, a gym, canteenM restaurant and four meeting rooms for guests, the statement said. The hotel’s patio also features a permanent food truck with rotating food concepts. In the coming months, Meta will outsource the restaurant area to an operator of their choice.
“Connection is fundamental to all we do at Meta, particularly within the communities we call home and work,” said John Tenanes, vice president of global facilities and real estate at Meta. “We proudly welcome citizenM to Menlo Park, fostering connections between our employees and travelers with the local community through this innovative property.”
Ensuring its commitment to sustainability, the hotel has been built aligning with environmental standards, including energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction, the company added. The hotel aims for LEED Gold certification, in line with citizenM’s sustainability approach. All other hotels in citizenM’s portfolio either hold green building certifications or are working towards them.
Meanwhile, citizenM has expanded its portfolio across North America, Europe, and Asia, with the Menlo Park property becoming the brand’s 32nd worldwide hotel. In March 2019, GIC Private Limited acquired a 25 percent stake in citizenM, valuing the company at $2.3 billion.
In November, KB Hotels, led by Kiran “Kenny” Bhakta, opened the Cambria Hotel Waco University Riverfront in Waco, Texas, marking it as the ninth Cambria Hotel in the southwest.
