Zleep Hotels

Zleep Hotels is a budget-oriented hotel brand that originated in Copenhagen, Denmark, and was established in 2003 through Nordic Hotel Management. The founding group consisted of Peter Haaber, Knud Larsen, and Egon Klitgaard, who had previously been associated with Scandic Hotels. The concept was built around straightforward, affordable accommodation rather than full-service hospitality, with an emphasis on practical rooms, accessible locations, and a relatively standardized guest experience. The company initially operated from the same building as its first hotel in Kastrup, near Copenhagen Airport, before moving to larger premises in Avedøre during 2003. Denmark remained the brand's principal market for much of its development, while the chain also expanded into other European countries. Its properties were positioned within the budget and economy segment and were generally classified as three-star hotels. The brand's geographic footprint has included Denmark, Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. In 2017, Zleep Hotels joined the European Hotelstars Union, aligning its hotel classification with a recognized European framework. That same year, the related company Core Hospitality was established as an independent Nordic white-label hotel operator. Although Core Hospitality was a sister company rather than simply another Zleep Hotels property, its formation reflected the broader hospitality-management capabilities developed around the Zleep organization. Core Hospitality later operated Copenhagen's first Moxy Hotels location, which opened in the South Harbour district in 2018. A major strategic change occurred in 2024, when Zleep Hotels signed an agreement with Marriott International to rebrand all 14 Zleep Hotels locations in Denmark under Marriott's Four Points Flex by Sheraton brand. This decision substantially reduced Zleep's direct Danish operating footprint and marked a transition away from the brand's original home-market network. Shortly afterward, founder Peter Haaber sold all rights to the Zleep Hotels brand to H World International. H World International subsequently became the brand's parent and owner. Following the Danish rebranding, Zleep Hotels continued with a smaller international portfolio. As of 2025, the brand operated five properties located in Madrid, Prague, Kelsterbach near Frankfurt am Main, Zurich, and Chavannes near Lausanne. The chain therefore remained active, but its post-2024 form was more focused on selected continental European hotels than on a broad Danish estate. Zleep Hotels' history illustrates the restructuring of a regional economy-hotel concept through brand licensing, portfolio rebranding, and ownership transfer.

Zleep Hotels was founded in 2003 by Peter Haaber, Knud Larsen, and Egon Klitgaard through Nordic Hotel Management. The three founders had professional connections to Scandic Hotels, and their new venture focused on developing a simpler and more affordable hotel format. The first Zleep hotel was located in Kastrup, near Copenhagen Airport. In its early period, the company operated from the same building as that hotel and moved to larger premises in Avedøre during 2003 as the business was established. The brand developed as a Danish-origin economy hotel chain. Its operating model emphasized functional accommodation and value rather than the extensive facilities associated with full-service hotels. Over time, Zleep expanded beyond Denmark into other European markets, including Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. Its properties were generally presented as three-star hotels and served both short-stay leisure guests and business travelers seeking relatively economical accommodation. In 2017, Zleep Hotels became a member of the European Hotelstars Union. The organization provides a common framework for hotel classification in participating European markets, and membership gave the chain a recognized context for its star ratings. Also in 2017, Core Hospitality was created as a sister company and independent Nordic white-label hotel operator. Core Hospitality broadened the group's hospitality-management activities beyond the Zleep brand. In 2018, it operated the first Moxy Hotels property in Copenhagen, located in the city's South Harbour district. The most consequential change in Zleep Hotels' history took place in 2024. The company reached an agreement with Marriott International under which all 14 Zleep Hotels locations in Denmark would be rebranded as Four Points Flex by Sheraton properties. The conversion removed the brand from its original Danish network and represented a major shift in the composition of its estate. Shortly afterward, founder Peter Haaber sold the rights to the Zleep Hotels brand to H World International. H World International became the brand's parent and owner, while Zleep continued as a smaller operating brand in selected European markets. By 2025, after all Danish locations had been rebranded, Zleep Hotels operated five hotels: one in Madrid, one in Prague, one in Kelsterbach near Frankfurt am Main, and properties in Zurich and Chavannes near Lausanne. The brand's post-restructuring history is therefore defined by a transition from a primarily Danish chain to a more limited international portfolio controlled by H World International. Its core identity remains tied to accessible, limited-service, three-star accommodation, but its ownership and geographic emphasis have changed substantially since its founding.

• 2025

  The brand operates five hotels outside Denmark

  [1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  Following the Danish rebrandings, the remaining Zleep Hotels portfolio consists of properties in Madrid, Prague, Kelsterbach, Zurich, and Chavannes.

• 2024

  Danish properties are rebranded as Four Points Flex by Sheraton

  [1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  Zleep Hotels signs an agreement with Marriott International to rebrand all 14 Danish locations under Four Points Flex by Sheraton.

• 2024

  H World International acquires the Zleep Hotels brand rights

  [1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  Founder Peter Haaber sells all rights to the Zleep Hotels brand to H World International.

• 2018

  Core Hospitality operates Copenhagen's first Moxy hotel

  [1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  Core Hospitality operates the first Moxy Hotels location in Copenhagen, opened in the city's South Harbour district.

• 2017

  Membership in the European Hotelstars Union

  [1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  Zleep Hotels joins the European Hotelstars Union, aligning with a shared European framework for hotel classification.

• 2017

  Core Hospitality is established

  [1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  A sister company, Core Hospitality, is established as an independent Nordic white-label hotel operator.

• 2003

  Zleep Hotels is founded

  [1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Haaber, Knud Larsen, and Egon Klitgaard establish Zleep Hotels through Nordic Hotel Management. The first hotel opens in Kastrup near Copenhagen Airport.

• 2003

  Company headquarters move to Avedøre

  [1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  After initially operating from the building containing its first hotel, the company moves to larger premises in Avedøre.

Affordable, practical European hotel accommodation with a standardized three-star, limited-service orientation.

• Hotel accommodation · 2003

  Zleep Hotels budget accommodation

  The core Zleep Hotels offering is practical, limited-service accommodation in the budget and economy segment. The brand's hotels are generally positioned as three-star properties, providing standardized rooms and essential guest services for travelers who prioritize price, convenience, and functional design over extensive leisure or full-service facilities. The portfolio has served both business and leisure guests in urban and airport-accessible locations.

• Hotel network

  Zleep Hotels European portfolio

  After the rebranding of its Danish estate in 2024, Zleep Hotels' remaining network was concentrated in five properties in Spain, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Switzerland. As of 2025, these locations were in Madrid, Prague, Kelsterbach near Frankfurt am Main, Zurich, and Chavannes near Lausanne. The portfolio represents the brand's continuing international operation under H World International ownership.

• 2024

  Rebrand all Danish hotels under Four Points Flex by SheratonStrategy

  Background

  Zleep Hotels had a substantial Danish network, including 14 locations, while Marriott International was expanding the Four Points Flex by Sheraton format. The companies agreed to move the Danish properties into Marriott's brand system.

  Action taken

  Zleep Hotels signed an agreement with Marriott International to rebrand all 14 Danish locations as Four Points Flex by Sheraton hotels.

  Aftermath

  The decision removed the Zleep name from its Danish properties and left the brand operating a smaller portfolio in Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

  Source

• 2024

  Transfer of Zleep Hotels brand rights to H World InternationalM&A

  Background

  Following the agreement to rebrand the Danish hotel estate, founder Peter Haaber transferred ownership of the Zleep Hotels brand rights.

  Action taken

  Peter Haaber sold all rights to the Zleep Hotels brand to H World International.

  Aftermath

  H World International became the parent and owner of Zleep Hotels, which continued operating selected hotels outside Denmark.

  Source

• 2025

  Zleep Hotels continues with five properties outside Denmark[1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After the rebranding of its Danish locations, Zleep Hotels operated five properties in Madrid, Prague, Kelsterbach near Frankfurt am Main, Zurich, and Chavannes near Lausanne.

• 2024

  Zleep Hotels signs agreement to rebrand Danish properties as Four Points Flex by Sheraton[1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  The brand agreed with Marriott International to convert all 14 of its Danish locations to the Four Points Flex by Sheraton brand, ending Zleep's operation of those hotels under its original name.

• 2024

  Peter Haaber sells the Zleep Hotels brand rights to H World International[1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  Following the Danish portfolio rebranding agreement, founder Peter Haaber sold all rights to the Zleep Hotels brand to H World International, which became its parent and owner.

• 2017

  Zleep Hotels joins the European Hotelstars Union[1]Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Zleep Hotels became a member of the European Hotelstars Union, connecting its hotel classification practices with a common European star-rating framework.

1. 1Zleep Hotelsen.wikipedia.org