Urban Rest Appoints UK&I General Manager as EMEA Growth Accelerates

Urban Rest, the flexible living and corporate housing operator, has appointed Richard Jones to the newly created role of UK& Ireland General Manager, as the company accelerates its global expansion across its key operating cities of London and Dublin.

The appointment comes as Urban Rest celebrates a major milestone of doubling portfolio growth in the last 12-months, driven by key relationships with our property partners. This move highlights both the rising demand within the corporate housing sector and the operator’s growing reputation as a trusted property manager for flexible living assets.

A seasoned leader in hospitality and accommodation, Jones brings 30 years of experience spanning IHG Hotels & Resorts and Sonder, where he played a pivotal role in driving portfolio growth across EMEA. His expertise in building high-performing teams and delivering complex projects positions him to strengthen Urban Rest’s ambitious expansion into both new and existing markets.

“Europe, and London in particular, has been central to our global growth strategy,” said David Whelan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Over the past three years, we’ve expanded our portfolio across the city in partnership with leading property owners. With rising corporate demand and the continued growth of flexible living and BTR spaces, London will remain a key focus for us. Richard’s expertise will ensure we scale with precision while staying true to our commitment: bringing joy back to the way people travel for work.”

London Market Growth

London remains one of the busiest hubs for global business travel, with millions of corporate professionals calling the city home, whether temporarily while on assignment, or permanently when relocating. The rise of flexible living and build-to-rent models is reshaping corporate housing across the city, with demand for mid to long stays surging as companies seek alternatives to traditional hotels for their employees.

Urban Rest is uniquely positioned to capture this momentum, with a sales and distribution engine connected to a global network of more than 1,000 corporate accounts. With a strong foothold in high-quality, design-led assets across London, Urban Rest stays are purposefully created to support the evolving needs of today’s corporate traveller.

“I’m so looking forward to being part of Urban Rest’s growth, especially at such a pivotal moment,” said Richard Jones, UK& Ireland General Manager. “Having watched the brand go from strength to strength, and with corporate housing evolving globally, I look forward to driving continued growth in London and beyond as we enter our next stage of expansion with our property partners.”

Urban Rest offers premium and flexible accommodation solutions across the living sector.

An industry-leading technology platform allows Urban Rest to partner with developers and property owners as both a brand and operating solution, powering boutique stays made for the modern corporate traveller.

Operating a portfolio of over 80 properties across Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the United Kingdom, and with a network of over 1,000 blue-chip corporate clients, Urban Rest is reimagining business travel, bringing comfort, consistency and joy to how people travel for work.