YOtel sign
YOtel check-in
YOtel check-in
YOtel check-in computer screen
YOtel check-in keypad
YOtel corridor graphics
Corridor
Corridor
Premium sofa bed
Premium Room deployed bed
Deployed cabin bed 
Single room shower cubicle
Standard lower cabin bed and techwall storage
Standard high cabin bed and techwall storage
Programme 6
Overview
Located uniquely inside the airport terminal buildings accessible from the public areas at London Gatwick's South Terminal. A short walk from check-in and arrivals, and minutes from the other terminals.
Conceptual designer
The idea was conceived by entrepreneur Simon Woodroffe after he was upgraded into first class on a flight. He decided to translate the language of luxury airline travel and Japanese casual hotel into a small but luxurious cabin. Simon Woodroffe is a British motivational speaker. He started YO! Sushi in 1997, and appeared as a ‘Dragon' on the first series of Dragon's Den.
History
The 6000sq ft space had been empty for 7 years. Retailers usually desperate for space in the airport environment wouldn't touch it as it lacks frontage and display opportunities.
Features
The ‘internal' window utilising the spacious feel of the corridor space means that 46 cabins could be constructed in redundant space without any detriment to the quality or functionality of the product. Perhaps the greatest invention of the hotel is the way the units within a shell have internal rather than external windows. The windows will look onto the corridor, rather than forming part of the façade. This may seem off-putting, but the corridors are naturally lit by a sophisticated combination of channelling and reflective mechanisms. YOtel believes that this will also help it place hotels in locations that would not usually be appropriate, reducing costs so that luxury can be bought at an affordable price. The Premium cabins are designed with a double bed that deploys to a couch at a touch of a button. The moving mechanism of the bed allows guests to use it as a couch and maximise the floor area space whilst perhaps working, or at the touch of button deploy it to a full size flat bed.