Yanolja Group's hotel development consulting firm Yanolja Partners said on Thursday it has launched a branded hostel, Stay Arijae, and will expand consulting for hostel operators.

Yanolja Partners will support operators pursuing new hostel development or remodeling existing lodging facilities, including site analysis, brand planning, space design, room composition and customer experience design.

The company plans to broaden its business scope into the hostel segment based on its experience conducting new development and remodeling consulting for about 680 branded hotels.

Stay Arijae is a brand that modernly reinterprets Korean spatial elements and applies designs using wood materials and blue colors.

Yanolja Partners explained that unlike general franchises, it provides brand design and consulting without franchise fees or royalties. Operators can independently decide on contractor selection, operating methods and supply chains for fixtures and equipment.

Operators that need hotel operation solutions can introduce property management systems (PMS) and others by linking with Sanha Information Technology, a hospitality solution affiliate of Yanolja Group.

Yanolja Partners has currently signed brand contracts for 4 locations, including Stay Arijae Seoul Jamsil, Seoul Seongsu, Seoul Hwanghak and Iksan Station.

A Yanolja official said, "Interest in the hostel market is growing due to an increase in foreign tourists and diversification of travel forms," adding, "Based on our experience in lodging facility development consulting, we will support hostel operators' entry into the market."