Last year, we launched Founders First, an initiative supporting small businesses from underrepresented communities in London and New York City. Today, we have our winners! These two businesses share our values of community, connection and inclusivity. Scroll down to meet the brains behind the ideas.
Need trusted travel advice? Speak to Kim Callender and Arabella Bowen! They created the SoloTrvlr platform to empower independent female-identifying travellers to discover the world on their own terms. How? Through personalised trip-planning support from a global network of women advisors. Here’s to more enriching travel experiences and deeper local connections!
Hunch Studios is in the business of fun and games. Literally. Founded by long-time friends Javier Quinonez and Peter Levin, this TV show and card game studio is all about being present – and having fun. The duo’s delightful creations have sold millions of copies worldwide, with more to come. Who said business has to be all work, no play anyway?
They’re just like us! “These founders are the perfect partners for citizenM given their missions to bring people together, whether it be through nostalgic fun via innovative card games or empowering travel experiences for solo female-identifying adventurers,” said our Chief Brand Officer, Robin Chadha. “We are excited for our [...] founders to propel their brands forward via our network of like-minded partners, suppliers and collaborators worldwide.”
Our founders won a two-year mycitizenM+ membership for themselves and their teams, with access to our global network of 36 (and growing!) hotels and co-working spaces. They also received a monetary investment to help propel their brand vision forward, plus consultations with citizenM's expert procurement team, and opportunities to connect with our guests and communities.
In New York, Hunch Studios will be teaming up with citizenM to host an event in February (just in time for Valentine’s Day!). In the UK, female-identifying travellers will have the chance to win a getaway for two at any citizenM hotel – including a one-on-one consultation with one of SoloTrvlr’s verified local advisors and a personalised guide filled with tips and recommendations! Keep your eyes peeled for our next round of applications.
At citizenM, we understand the importance of getting your product in front of the right audience – for us, that’s modern travellers like you. People who get that it’s not how much you spend, but what you spend it on. By staying true to our affordable luxury ethos, we have grown from a single hotel to a 36-strong portfolio (and counting!) – and we have the fans to prove it. Citizens worldwide love our super-central locations, signature XL king-size beds, art-packed living rooms and super friendly ambassadors. They call us ‘the hotel that changed hotels’. Who are we to disagree?