London-based Generator is the fastest growing hostel brand in Europe, with branches in the most central locations across the continent including Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin among many others. It started out as a partnership between siblings in 1995 when Kingsley and Louise Duffy opened their first hostel in Bloomsbury, London. Included by Fast Company in its list of top 50 Most Innovative Global Companies, Generator has since grown to become a brand with 14 properties in its portfolio. The company, which was previously known as Generator Hostels, decided to drop the “hostels” part of its name to avoid being limited to a specific market.

The brand is considered to have pioneered the concept of affordable luxury. Its hostels and boutique hotels feature award winning interiors, chill-out roof tops and bars for those wanting the social experience, and bespoke beds for the weary traveller. They also host carefully-curated locally-inspired events that add the ultimate cool factor for guests looking to discover something new in a European city.

In 2018, Generator expanded outside of Europe and launched its first US location in Miami. That same year, the company was acquired by Queensgate Investments, which invested €300million for additional hostel assets in a bid to solidify the brand’s reputation as a leader in the hospitality industry.