It's a familiar process for seasoned travelers: choose your destination, and then search for a hotel in or around that area. But how about accommodations that are placed where you plan to visit? This phenomenon of "pop-up" hotels may very well become a popular lodging choice in the coming years, especially in places that see a sudden influx of many people seeking a place to stay - such as cities hosting music festivals or sporting events. There have already been some notable examples of pop-ups, but their beginning can be attributed to Hotel Everland.
Meet Hotel Everland
The world's first pop-up hotel got its start as a zany art project by Swiss artists Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann, or L/B. The duo designed the one-room hotel and had it built in 2002. Hotel Everland was first located on Lake Neuchatel for a few months, and then moved to the roofs of the artists' studios and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Leipzig, Germany. The hotel was open to visitors during the day as an art exhibit, but at night was like a normal hotel: the room reserved for paying guests. Then, in 2007, Hotel Everland moved yet again, this time to the City of Light, Paris. For two years it was available for rent atop the Palais de Tokyo, an exhibition space for "contemporary creativity," its bright coloring looking out of place next to the beige stone below it, but the rooftop placement was perfect for the scene out of Everland's biggest window: an undisrupted, up-close view of the Eiffel Tower.
What is a pop-up hotel?
Though other pop-up hotels are usually like tents, made of something collapsible, the Hotel Everland is a kind of capsule, weighing 10 tons. Shaped like a rectangle and containing one long room, this pop-up isn't a good choice for those looking for privacy or an abundance of square footage. The main attraction for the Everland was the uniqueness and the amazing view, while for other pop-ups the draw is the convenience, ease of availability, and the affordability. Tent-like pop-ups, for instance those at festivals, are easy to set up and take apart, and guests don't have to worry about searching for open rooms at overbooked hotels or paying over-inflated prices because of a big event.
The Hotel Everland, meanwhile, needed the help of a gigantic crane in order to be moved, and was only available for a maximum one-night stay, adding to its exclusivity. And although the Hotel Everland was not very large or extravagant, this does not mean that it was without comforts. The hotel had a king-sized bed, a lounge area with two couches, a fully-stocked mini bar that was included in the price of the room, a collection of records, and breakfast service, delivered to the door.
The Future of Pop-ups
Unfortunately, after two years in Paris, the Hotel Everland was moved back to Switzerland with no plans to reopen it as of now. However, the pop-up trend clearly didn't die with the Everland. Companies, such as the aptly named The Pop-Up Hotel, still offer pop-up accommodations in places such as the Caribbean, Europe, and the U.K. So keep your eyes peeled for wherever they may pop-up next!