Bob W recently opened its first properties in the Netherlands : Bob W Oosterpark and Bob W Noord ( pictured here ). The newly built Bob W Noord is located on Papaverwag in Amsterdam- Noord and comprises apartments and lofts along with a rooftop pool , wellness center and restaurant .
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Is Bob W the Best of Both Worlds ?
CEO NIKO KARSTIKKO SAYS HIS HOSPITALITY COMPANY IS DRIVING THE EXPERIENCE WITH TECHNOLOGY .
Contributed by HARVEY CHIPKIN
M
eet Bob W . He is the most gracious host you can imagine , but also extremely tech savvy . He will help you deal with any issue that might arise .
Who is this amazing person ? Actually , Bob W doesn ’ t exist . Instead , it is the name of a fast-growing European hospitality company founded in 2018 by Niko Karstikko , CEO , and co-founder , Sebastian Emberger . The brand , according to the Finnish-born Karstikko , “ is a technology company that operates a hospitality product .”
Bob W ’ s mission , he said , is to create a lodging option for the next generation — very specifically targeting 25- to 45-year-old urban middle class travelers . Bob W , said Karstikko , combines the branded consistency and promise of a hotel and the authenticity and functionality of an actual home with kitchens , washing machines and dishwashers .
Karstikko sees Bob W as an organic transition from a legacy of mega-brand companies , such as Hilton and Marriott International , and web-based operators like Airbnb , combining the Best of Both Worlds ( thus the name Bob W ) through technology . Karstikko , a longtime
18 hotelsmag . com October 2023