Ruby, an urban lifestyle hotel brand and part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, has made its French debut with the opening of Ruby Lilou in Marseille. Located between the historic Vieux Port and the creative energy of La Joliette, the new hotel draws inspiration from Marseille's Mediterranean spirit and rebellious creativity.

Opening alongside Ruby Lilou, Ruby Yani also introduces Ruby Workspaces to the French market for the first time. Together, the hotel and workspace create a mixed-use destination bringing together hospitality, work and social experiences.

Michael Struck, Founder and CEO of Ruby Group, said, "Opening Ruby Lilou marks an important milestone for us as we debut the Ruby brand in France. Marseille is a city with a strong sense of identity, creativity, and authenticity, making it a natural fit for Ruby. Together with Ruby Yani Workspaces, we have created a destination that reflects the character of the city while offering guests, workspace members and locals a place to stay, work and connect. We are excited to become part of Marseille's vibrant community and look forward to welcoming many guests."

Lauren Krostue, Vice President, Global Brand Management, Ruby, said, "Marseille is a city that thrives on contrast, where heritage meets creativity, and laid-back Mediterranean living sits alongside a bold independent spirit. With Ruby Lilou, we wanted to capture that unique energy, creating a place that feels deeply rooted in its surroundings while offering the thoughtful design, comfort and character guests expect from Ruby."

La Belle Re-Belle

Inspired by Marseille's history, harbour energy and creative culture, Ruby Lilou combines soft tones drawn from lavender fields, sun-bleached stone and the Mediterranean Sea with graphic patterns, bold colours and distinctive design elements.

The hotel features 237 rooms across the Nest, Cosy, Lovely and Wow categories. Inspired by luxury yacht design, the rooms feature oversized beds, walk-in rainfall showers, blackout curtains and interiors reflecting Marseille's maritime heritage and creative spirit.

Ruby Lilou also brings together central-city accommodation, design and tech-enabled experiences. Music is part of the stay through curated sound programmes, live acts in the evening and in-room Marshall amplifiers and Bluetooth speakers.

At the centre of the hotel is Ruby's signature 24/7 bar and café, serving barista coffee, local wines, cocktails and light bites throughout the day. Guests and locals can also access the hotel's 300 sqm rooftop terrace, offering panoramic views across Marseille towards the Mediterranean.

Located close to Le Panier, Marseille's oldest quarter, the hotel offers access to cultural landmarks, the waterfront and the city's business district. Joliette metro station is a three-minute walk away, while Marseille Saint-Charles railway station can be reached in five minutes by metro. Marseille Provence Airport is approximately 45 minutes away by public transport.

Ruby Yani Workspace

Opening alongside Ruby Lilou, Ruby Yani brings Ruby Workspaces to France for the first time. Operated by The Ruby Group, the workspace offers more than 126 flexible workstations, private offices, meeting rooms, phone booths and communal areas for freelancers, entrepreneurs, businesses and hotel guests.

Members can also access the hotel's rooftop terrace, bringing work, hospitality and social experiences together. Flexible memberships start from EUR 60 per month, while day passes.

Founded in Germany in 2013, Ruby has 42 open and pipeline hotels globally, with properties predominantly across Europe's largest and most prominent cities. The brand recently opened Ruby Frida in Stockholm in June 2026 and has also expanded into the U.S. with recent signings in Chicago and New York City, along with its first hotel signing in Belgium and new properties in Germany and Italy.

Ruby aims to grow to more than 120 global hotels during the next decade and more than 250 during the next 20 years. Ruby is part of IHG Hotels & Resorts. Ruby Lilou's development, design and operations will be run by Ruby Group, the independent company that created the Ruby brand before selling it to IHG in 2025.