citizenM – the award-winning Dutch hotel and lifestyle company – has opened the doors to its newest hotel in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighbourhood. The opening is notable for many reasons: it’s the 20th citizenM hotel overall; the first opening of 2020, and the first on the West Coast.

citizenM Seattle South Lake Union is a 264-key, seven-storey hotel at 201 Westlake Avenue between North and John Streets – ideally located for business and leisure. Amazon and Microsoft headquarters, the Space Needle, the Washington State Convention Center and Pike Place Market are all neighbours.

The hotel facade is wrapped by an extra-large innovation-themed art piece by Jesse LeDoux – a formerly Seattle-based art director of Sub Pop Records. Inside on the ground floor, the Native American artist Jeffrey Veregge - also a Seattle resident - has contributed a large-scale tech-themed mural in his unmistakable comic-book inspired style.

citizenM isn’t ‘just another hotel in town’. citizenM’s guiding philosophy is ‘affordable luxury for the people’ – where the ‘people’ are modern travellers who want a stylish, convenient, tech-rich experience in a central location, but not at an exorbitant price. citizenM Seattle South Lake Union hotel packs all the signature brand features: just one type of bedroom, 24/7 food and drinks, free movies, superfast free Wi-Fi, high-quality design and world-class art. The tech-rich experience is now enhanced by the world’s first contactless capabilities via citizenM’s new app.

Affordable luxury gets smart with citizenM’s contactless experience

Now, more than ever, citizenM’s main goal is to alleviate the health and safety concerns of global travellers. In June 2020, citizenM launched its first app for iOS and Android devices, giving guests more control over their stay than ever before.

citizenM’s famous one-minute check-in via the self-service kiosk can now be done via the app on the way to the hotel and guests can also use their own smartphone to open the room. The contactless experience continues in the bedrooms. All room controls – lights, blinds, temperature, colour settings and entertainment – can now be done through the citizenM app, without touching the in-room tablet or wall switches.

Through the app chat function, the guests will soon be able to request services like extra pillows and toiletries, report faults in the room and book wake-up calls. Daily food and drinks menus are already viewable in the app, with full order-placing functionality coming soon as well. All items available for purchase at the hotel – collectionM gift assortment, food, drinks, snacks, books and travel essentials – can be charged to the room, then paid for via the app.

A fully contactless check-out is also available, with guests able to settle any remaining balances through the app.