Hilton announced an agreement with Yotel under which Yotel’s properties will be available in the Hilton system and guests will be able to earn Hilton Honors loyalty points. Yotel will continue to independently manage and license its brand at 23 hotels across 10 countries, with a goal of more than tripling its portfolio in the coming years.

Yotel will be the first company in the newly established Select by Hilton, which will include established hotel brands that will retain their own identity and brand management while they connect to Hilton Honors and enjoy the benefits of Hilton’s distribution and technology platforms.

Launched in London in 2007, Yotel has extended its reach to hotels in key markets like New York, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Glasgow and Singapore with “smart, efficient room designs” that feature the Yotel SmartBed, which can transform from a flatbed to a sofa with the touch of a button, and tech-forward features like automated luggage storage.

Christian Charnaux, chief development officer, Hilton, said the addition of Yotel to Hilton’s network “is the latest example of our commitment to capital efficient growth through a relationship that is both complementary to our existing brand portfolio and offers guests thoughtfully designed, sleek new ways to stay with Hilton in key urban locations around the world.”

This agreement, said Charnaux, “further strengthens our network effect by connecting a beloved independent brand like Yotel into the powerful Hilton Honors network and commercial distribution system, while preserving what makes the brand unique.”

Phil Andreopoulos, CEO, Yotel, said, “Hilton brings unmatched global distribution and loyalty scale to our brand and business.” Yotel’s relationship with Hilton, he said, “allows us to expand our reach while staying true to who we are.” What changes for Yotel, said Andreopoulos, “is access — not identity — in a capital-light, and scalable way.”