Épopée Gestion and the Vicartem Group, via its hotel management company Younight Hospitality, announce signing of a strategic partnership to co-invest in high value-added regional hotel opportunities. The two players, who share a common vision of the region, are combining their complementary expertise to develop a sustainable hotel offering in the French Atlantic Arc, meeting the expectations of an increasingly demanding clientele in terms of customer experience and sustainable hospitality. Épopée Gestion will be investing via its Épopée Hôtels I fund, which is making its first investment in the project. The first transaction involves the acquisition of two assets, the Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites in Nantes and La Rochelle. Hotel management will be operated by Younight Hospitality, a subsidiary of Vicartem.
A committed partnership for a development for more sustainable tourism
Thanks to this partnership, Younight Hospitality, renowned for its expertise in the hotel sector, is able to contribute its know-how in the management and operation of hotel establishments.
For its part, Épopée Gestion is making available its Épopée Hôtels I fund, launched in early 2024 and dedicated to hotel investment and the development of more sustainable tourism in the French regions. With a target size €200 million in assets under management, the fund aims to acquire between ten and fifteen assets to renovate and reposition towards an environmentally committed quality offering, thus meeting the expectations of a growing clientele concerned more sustainable tourism. Together, the two partners, who share a common vision of preserving and enhancing heritage and hospitality, aim to acquire and renovate existing hotels, repositioning them in a high-end segment and endowing them with a strong identity. The aim is to create establishments that combine comfort, authenticity and respect for the environment.
This strategic partnership capitalizes on the complementary expertise of the two players and aims to strengthen their regionial roots via a joint platform that will actively acquire and manage hotel establishments located in the French regions. Younight Hospitality, a hotel management company for third parties launched in 2021 by Vicartem, will take over the complete management of the two establishments. Drawing on its expertise, Younight Hospitality offers “turnkey” support and is involved in the entire life cycle of a hotel, from acquisition and renovation to day-to-day operational management, supported by a team of dedicated specialists. Épopée Gestion will bring to this partnership its expertise as a multi-sector investment player, backed by a team of experienced professionals with in-depth knowledge of the French regions.
A strong alignment of interests in the long term
As the first step in this partnership, the Épopée Hôtels I fund has made its first investment, acquiring a stake in two Maisons du Monde Hôtel & Suites hotels ideally located in the very center of Nantes and La Rochelle, two dynamic destinations with strong potential. These 4* urban boutique hotels, with 58 and 63 rooms respectively and tasteful, warm decor, are aimed at both leisure and business customers. The hotels were historically owned by the Vicartem Group, which will remain a shareholder in the newly-created platformguaranteeing both a long-term alignment of interests and immediate use of the funds raised by the Épopée Hôtels I fund. Younight Hospitality will retain the hotel management of both hotels.
The platform aims develop through the acquisition and enhancement of medium-sized 2 to 4 star properties in the French regions, in order to boost the attractiveness of the regional hotel offer, in line with the expertise of hotel management company Younight Hospitality and the strategy of the Épopée Hôtels I fund. The establishments will also aim to obtain the Clef verte label within two years of acquisition.
Arnaud Lehuédé, partner and director of sustainable real estate at Épopée Gestion, comments: “The purpose of the Épopée Hôtels I fund is to be in line with Épopée Gestion’s impact strategy, while at the same time being able to support the development of a quality hotel offering. We are delighted to combine our skills with those of Younight Hospitality, which shares our entrepreneurial values and commitment to the region. This partnership is an opportunity to capitalize on the complementary expertise of our teams to unearth high-potential assets strategically located in the heart of regions, renovate them and create attractive, sustainable hotel products, while preserving their history and local character.“
Romain Gowhari, Founding Partner of Younight Hospitality:
“This partnership with Épopée Gestion is a great opportunity to strengthen our foothold in the French Atlantic Arc, an increasingly attractive region, particularly in view of the climatic challenges that are redefining tourist destinations in Europe. Drawing on our expertise in creating and managing hotel concepts, we aim to renovate existing hotels to turn them into innovative, sustainable hotel destinations aligned with the expectations of a clientele in search of meaning and authenticity“.