Leonardo Hotels Central Europe is expanding its portfolio in France through the acquisition of the former Hilton Evian-les-Bains. The handover of the property, located on the shore of Lake Geneva, is scheduled for 1 August 2026. This marks a strategic step to consolidate Leonardo Hotels' market presence in the region. The property will initially operate under the name Hotel Evian-les-Bains by Leonardo Hotels and will undergo extensive modernisation while remaining operational.
The hotel comprises 170 rooms and suites, many of which offer direct views of Lake Geneva or the surrounding Alps. The property's facilities include a restaurant with a lakeside terrace, a bar, and a heated outdoor swimming pool. Additionally, a fitness centre and a spa and wellness area are available. For business purposes, conference rooms and an executive lounge are provided, completing the offering for events and business travellers.
Strategic Repositioning and Prime Location
As part of the planned modernisation, the hotel will be integrated into the lifestyle brand NYX Hotel Evian-les-Bains by Leonardo Hotels. The NYX concept is geared towards a contemporary hotel experience that harmoniously combines urban design with creativity and local art. Evian-les-Bains, as a location, is characterised by its direct position on Lake Geneva and at the foot of the French Alps. This makes the destination ideal for both leisure and business travel. The town centre and the ferry connection to Lausanne are within walking distance. The combination of its lakeside and alpine setting in the French-Swiss border region ensures the location's year-round appeal.
Yoram Biton, Managing Director of Leonardo Hotels Central Europe, commented on the acquisition. He emphasised that the takeover of the hotel in Evian-les-Bains represents the consistent continuation of the growth strategy in France. The destination combines international appeal with continuous demand in the leisure and business segments and fits ideally into the company's European expansion strategy. Biton expressed the intention to specifically develop the property further with the NYX Hotels lifestyle brand, offering guests a unique hotel experience in one of France's most attractive regions.
Company Profile and Brand Diversity
Leonardo Hotels Central Europe, headquartered in Berlin, manages a portfolio of 126 hotels with over 21,800 rooms, distributed across 55 destinations and eleven countries. These countries include Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal. Since the opening of its first property in 2007, Leonardo Hotels has been one of Europe's fastest-growing hotel chains. Initially focused on business travellers, the company has increasingly expanded into the leisure sector since 2022. The Leonardo Hotels brand family is characterised by broad differentiation to appeal to diverse guest segments.
- —Leonardo Hotels: Comfortable properties with a pronounced culture of welcome.
- —Leonardo Royal Hotels: Stylish business hotels with a high standard of service.
- —NYX Hotels by Leonardo Hotels: Young lifestyle hotels with a focus on art, entertainment, and local flair.
- —Leonardo Limited Edition: A curated collection of individual hotels.
