a&o Hostels, Europe’s largest hostel chain, is expanding its hospitality footprint into Belgium with the opening of its first property, a&o Antwerpen Centraal, on November 1st, 2024. The hostel, previously a budget hotel named Century Antwerp, will be opposite the Antwerp Central Station, offering guests a prime city center location.
The nine-story property will feature 133 rooms and 516 beds, offering single, double, and family rooms. This new property brings the total number of a&o locations to 41 across 11 European countries. The company plans to invest 4 million euros in the renovation and modernization of the property.
Following this expansion, a&o Hostels has plans to add three or four more properties to its portfolio in 2025. The company’s CEO, Oliver Winter, praised the city of Antwerp for its accessibility and expressed optimism about the future growth of a&o.
The hostel chain is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, committed to achieving net-zero operations by 2025. The company’s growth strategy primarily focuses on converting existing properties rather than building new ones, as it continues to provide modern, functional, and affordable accommodation to a diverse range of travelers.
In addition, a&o Hostels is eyeing further expansion across Europe, with potential openings planned for Brussels, London, Manchester, Paris, Madrid, and Lisbon.
