Saying Goodbye to Guilain

This month, we’re catching up with Guilain, our Senior Development Analyst, as he prepares to move on to his next chapter. Since joining easyHotel in January 2023, he’s been a key part of the Development team, helping turn our growth ambitions into reality through research, insight and analysis across Europe. 

Based in Paris, Guilain has brought curiosity and precision to everything he’s worked on, from assessing potential new locations to supporting projects through to board approval. As he gets ready to say goodbye, we wanted to look back on his time at easyHotel and hear his reflections on what he’s learned along the way. 

We’re grateful for all his contributions and wish him every success in the future. 

1. When did you join easyHotel, and how would you explain your job (to anyone not in development)? 

I joined easyHotel in January 2023 as a Development Analyst. In simple terms, my role was to evaluate new hotel opportunities across Western Europe. While the Development Managers were out meeting brokers, real estate developers and partners to source projects, I worked behind the scenes to assess the numbers, evaluate risks and prepare recommendations for management and the board. I also supported the team during negotiations. 

2. What project or initiative are you most proud of during your time here? 

I’m particularly proud of having rebuilt from the ground up all our business plan models and investment memorandums (the documents used to present projects to the board). It was a great opportunity to modernise our tools and make our analysis clearer and more efficient. 

3. What did you enjoy most about working at easyHotel and in development? 

What I enjoyed most was the variety of projects and investment types we handled. Few hotel companies can both buy real estate and take leases, which allowed us to explore many different deal structures. I also loved the international aspect of the job. Being based in Paris while studying projects in Spain, France, the UK and Germany gave the role a true international feel. I enjoyed working with colleagues from different countries and cultures and visiting projects abroad. 

 Lastly, I really valued the open and collaborative culture at easyHotel. In the Paris office, we all share the same open space, including some exec members, which makes communication easy and straightforward. You can quickly exchange ideas, ask questions or get feedback without formality. It keeps things simple and efficient, and I really appreciated that. 

4. Any advice you’d give to someone starting out in hotel development or brand growth? 

I’d suggest first getting comfortable with financial modelling and investment analysis, as it’s the foundation of every good development decision. Once you feel confident with the numbers, you can naturally move toward the more commercial and negotiation aspects of the role. And above all, stay curious, open-minded and collaborative.