Room Mate Hotels has unveiled its first hotel in the Basque Country, continuing its expansion plan after the opening of Room Mate Bruno in Rotterdam.
Located in Plaza de Gipuzkoa in the heart of San Sebastián, Room Mate Gorka's design combines contemporary and neoclassical elements, creating a space that is in tune with the city. The property's façade, one of the symbols of the famous square, has as such been kept the same.
Inside, Cuarto Interior has split 33 guestrooms into double, executive and duplex options, many of which feature terraces. The Madrid-based design practice also makes reference to the La Concha beach front promenade throughout, as well as carefully employing transparent elements, including glass panels that separate the reception and bar, to allow public spaces to intertwine.
"I am particularly happy with this opening," says Kike Sarasola, President and founder of the Room Mate Group. "San Sebastián is one of my favourite cities in the world and Room Mate Hotels couldn't not be here. My father was from Donostia-San Sebastián, my memories in the city are wonderful and it brings me great joy that Room Mate Gorka is now another member of the great family made up of 24 hotels located around the world.
"As with all new projects, at Room Mate Gorka we have taken care of the finest details. We are sure that Gorka is going to become a new landmark in the city. It is the work of my friends Germán Álvarez and José Manuel Fernández from Cuarto Interior, and working together has been a real pleasure."
Elsewhere, hotel facilities include a gym, breakfast space and meeting room, while a bar serving traditional Spanish pinchos can be accessed from the ground floor and is complete with a private terrace.
Álvarez and Fernández add: "We loved designing the new Room Mate Gorka because from the very beginning Kike Sarasola had a very clear idea of the hotel that he wanted for his guests. Kike gave us complete freedom to create the interior concept of the hotel. It was an absolute pleasure working for Room Mate Hotels."
Room Mate Hotels plans to open another 11 hotels before the end of 2019, adding to the 24 hotels that it currently operates. New destinations include Rotterdam, Rome, Paris, Naples, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Mallorca and Lisbon, which will double the hotel group's key count from 1,522 to more than 3,052.
