Apaleo sets 'record' with the rollout of 7,500 citizenM rooms in 8 weeks

OPERATIONS

citizenM migrated 7,500 rooms across 18 cities to Apaleo’s PMS in just 8 weeks. Multiple hotels went live each day, while the entire rollout was managed remotely.

Why it matters: This may be the fastest PMS migration ever completed by a mid-sized hotel group. It proves that modern platforms can replace legacy systems at scale without on-site work or operational disruption.

Apaleo enables hotel groups to connect tools and automate processes through self-service onboarding. By switching to Apaleo, citizenM replaced legacy systems in 31 hotels and gained full control over the rollout process. The central team was able to launch multiple properties per day without external support or on-site presence. This gave citizenM the flexibility to scale faster, standardise operations globally, and set up new hotels with minimal effort and maximum speed.

Top 3 Core Objectives: citizenM set out to modernise its tech stack, streamline global operations, and enable rapid, fully remote rollouts across all hotels.

Replace Legacy Systems: Modernise and future-proof operations by replacing disconnected legacy tools with a flexible, API-first platform that enables seamless integration and full automation.
Standardise Global Operations: Establish consistent system configurations and processes across all properties to ensure centralised control and simplify daily operations.
Enable Scalable Rollouts: Accelerate the opening of new hotels with fully remote deployments, minimising on-site effort and supporting rapid global expansion.

Innovators Mentioned

citizenM

apaleo GmbH

Mike Rawson

CIO of citizenM

citizenM

"The migration was a hugely ambitious project, requiring very detailed planning for many hotels across the globe. Compared to any other PMS of similar size and scope, it was the quickest implementation ever witnessed in our industry. Our congratulations go to our fantastic citizenM team and to everyone at Apaleo, who have proven to be such valuable partners."

Mike Rawson

CIO of citizenM

👍 CIO of citizenM Mike Rawson said that the migration was the fastest PMS implementation of its kind, made possible through meticulous planning and close collaboration with Apaleo:

"The migration was a hugely ambitious project, requiring very detailed planning for many hotels across the globe. Compared to any other PMS of similar size and scope, it was the quickest implementation ever witnessed in our industry. Our congratulations go to our fantastic citizenM team and to everyone at Apaleo, who have proven to be such valuable partners."

⚖️ The selection process: During their research process, Mike Rawson evaluated apaleo GmbH's product differentiators, customer support, and holistic value as a strategic partner and ultimately decided that apaleo GmbH was the best fit solution:

CIO of citizenM Mike Rawson said, about their decision: "Our decision to adopt an API-first platform is futureproofing our business and guaranteeing our ability to move with the times and create exactly the kind of guest experience we want for our guests. Beyond a mere PMS migration, our initiative embraces numerous components and leverages the Apaleo Store to enhance our service capabilities."

📈 The results: citizenM completed a full PMS migration across 31 hotels in just 8 weeks, achieving global standardisation and setting a new benchmark for speed and scalability in hotel tech adoption.

All 7,500 rooms across 18 cities were migrated without disruption, with multiple hotels going live per day.
The entire rollout was managed remotely by citizenM’s central team, with no on-site presence required.
citizenM now operates on a unified, API-first tech stack that supports rapid expansion and continuous innovation.

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