A year and a half ago, during a 6 hours night waiting for a delayed flight, long time friends and travelers José and Luis Antonio took a real look at the people (including themselves) trying to kill the time reading, walking or drinking, or hoping to sleep on the cold metal benches of the Mexico City airport.
But instead of solely feeling miserable, they realized a business opportunity that might become a trend in airport accommodations worldwide: the originally Japanese pod hotel. So, they decided to go on a two weeks Asian trip to research almost two dozen of these hotels of small, individual capsules, to analize how to adapt the concept for Western travelers.
They liked the idea, invited other 6 businessmen (all Mexican) to the adventure, and finally opened the first of such hotels inside of terminal 1 of Mexico City airport: IZZZLEEP, offering not only whole night stayings but also cheap and convenient short stayings by the hour to nap and shower.
In the first 2 months of trial-operation they got 1700 customers, who turned to be not only the millenials and male businessmen they guessed, but also women and older people. So, they want to open a new branch at terminal 2 by the end of the year, and think of new investments at other big Mexican airports and even overseas.
I dont know if they would succed at this, but as a traveler who knows what a nightmare can be these long airport waitings and flight delays, I honestly hope so!
