Hotel dQ, opened by Spanish school chain Don Quijote, reflects an industry trend that accommodation provision is becoming increasingly sophisticated, as students are beginning to demand more outside of the classroom.

“This hotel is designed to provide the best accommodation for students,” Antonio Anadon, owner of Don Quijote told The PIE News. “We believe the accommodation is now as important as the quality of the classes. People are demanding better and better accommodation.”

A room in Hotel dQ

The higher education sector is also beginning to attract international students with hotel standard accommodation. A recent study by construction firm Wates shows that 79% of universities in the UK are planning to spend more than UK£5m on constructing campus hotels, student villages and better bedrooms for overseas students in order to remain competitive.

“Students are being asked to pay more than ever before for a university degree. That means they expect a quality of experience that reflects the high price they are paying,” said Ian Vickers of Wates.

“In order to remain competitive, universities are therefore looking to deliver modern facilities that have the ‘wow’ factor while also encouraging more efficient and collaborative use of space.”

Hotel dQ, with 98 air conditioned rooms, is located on the tree-lined boulevard of Calle Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Barcelona’s main street and next to the city’s main shopping thoroughfare.

Hotel dQ says it has had a great response from students so far and Anadon is optimistic about the busy summer months. “We want to make this a successful study hotel. It is a new concept that we developed and it is going very well.”

We believe the accommodation is now as important as the quality of the classes

In lower seasons, the hotel will provide accommodation to the general public at higher rates than students pay. It has teamed up with hotel company Intercontinental to provide the services and staff although the hotel is owned by Don Quijote.

Because of the hotel’s success so far, Don Quijote has plans to roll out the concept in two other cities soon.