IKEA to launch budget hotel chain Moxy with Marriott

FURNITURE GIANT IKEA is teaming up with hospitality business Marriott to launch a chain of budget hotels across Europe, called Moxy.

Although the Swedish superstore is famous for its flat-packs, it won't be providing any of the furniture in the guests' rooms. The hotels will, however, offer a "home from home" for "austerity-gripped" Europeans, The Guardian reports.

Moxy, which will be run by IKEA's property division Inter hospitality, promises to deliver a "contemporary stylish design, approachable service and, most importantly, an affordable price" for consumers. Each room will be the same size and have the same decor to keep costs low.

The first hotel will open near Milan's Malpensa airport next year, with rooms priced at €60 per night, and will eventually come to the UK where budget hotel brands such as Travelodge and Premier Inn have enjoyed widespread commercial success.

The Daily Mail notes the "unlikely pairing" hopes to launch 150 hotels with up to 30,000 rooms in 11 European countries. In Britain, Moxy hotels are expected to open in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Liverpool, York, Inverness and Cardiff. Aside from joining the hotel business, Inter hospitality is also planning to develop student accommodation in Britain, Germany and Belgium.

The news came as IKEA withdrew almond cakes from its restaurants in 23 countries after an excessive level of faecal bacteria was discovered in cakes in China. The Tarta Chokladkrokant cakes will remain on sale in the UK and Ireland, as they are supplied by a different company. Last week, the business also withdrew meatballs and wiener sausages over fears that they could contain traces of horsemeat. ·