Cédric Gobilliard knows best when it comes to distinctive, location-driven boutique properties. The COO of the trendsetting-yet-homey Mama Shelter Hotels worked his way into his current post with long executive “stays” at Disneyland Paris and Club Med before joining international hospitality giant Accor Hotels. While these specialized lodgings deliver certain groups of guests everything they would want, need and expect, he argues what sets Mama Shelter apart is a more personal approach where no “Mama” looks or feels the same.

© Francis Amiand

The 15-year-old, Paris-based hotel group’s name is made up of two emotionally charged words, and Gobilliard stresses each Mama Shelter not only provides a sense of place in its location (often underscored by some of the world’s snazziest rooftop bars and patios), but also one projecting warmth and personality as a private home might, thanks to interior designer Benjamin El Doghaïll.

“Mama is more than a hotel, restaurant, or a bar,” said El Doghaïll. “It’s a living place…a place to meet, eat, drink, sing, and dream. Mama offers an experience for every type of traveler, and we receive our guests like a family does. Each one has a soul inspired by its location and is shaped by the art, culture, gastronomy and stories of its surroundings. Democratic and tolerant, catering for work and leisure, we welcome anyone with a sense of inquisitiveness and an adventurous spirit.”

© Francis Amiand

According to Gobillard, “Mama” hopes to expand her family with around 50 members worldwide, with the next two arrivals in 2024. Mama Shelter Dubai, set for a winter or spring opening, is designed to be a modern oasis with 197 rooms and 204 apartments, multiple dining options, a terrace with four pools, an outdoor CinéMama, and other inventive amenities.

Mama Shelter also welcomes guests to Nice’s central Riquier neighborhood in June 2024, serving as a pied á terre for the Southern France port city, minutes from the Old Port on foot. The property will include 102 rooms, a restaurant and a rooftop with a pool.

© Francis Amiand

Noteworthy Mama Shelter openings in 2025 and 2026 plan to include:

• Mama Shelter Medellín, Colombia, located in the city’s El Poblado district: The property will be a home-office-away-from-home in Latin America, with more than 9,800 square feet of co-working space and 1,600 square feet of meeting space.
• In addition to 178 rooms and the all-important rooftop area, Mama Shelter Zürich, in the Oerlikon shopping district near city center, will house 1,800 square feet in meeting rooms and three karaoke rooms.
• Mama Shelter Casablanca, described by Gobilliard as a “pioneering lifestyle hotel” in Africa, will house 92 design rooms, 49 apartments, two restaurants (including one on the rooftop, naturally), 390 square feet of meeting space and an expansive pool.
• The 115-room Mama Shelter Singapore on Killiney Road, a neighborhood with a very residential feel, will sit within proximity to shophouses, quaint private homes, greenery and an abundance of small restaurants promising to pick up with foodies where the hawker stalls leave off.
• Following the success of Mama Shelter Hollywood, Mama Shelter Downtown Los Angeles promises to bring a hearty dose of fun to the business travel experience with 149 rooms, two restaurants and a coffee shop along with easy access to the area’s cultural and art attractions.