New airport hotel to create 400 jobs

THE Dublin Airport Authority (daa) is seeking expressions of interest for the development and operation of a new 402-bedroom four star hotel at Terminal 2. 

Four hundred new jobs are to be created as a result of the development. The new hotel will provide employment for 250 people, while an additional 150 new jobs will be generated during the construction phase of the project. When completed, it will be Ireland’s fourth largest hotel.   

Planning permission for the 11-storey hotel has already been granted. Construction is expected to begin next October and the property will open in 2019. 

It will have a total floor area of 22,840 square metres comprising 402 bedrooms, as well as extensive bar, restaurant, café and conference facilities and a fitness suite.

 It will occupy a prime site between Terminal 2 and the T2 multi-storey car park, and will be located just 95 metres from Terminal 2.

The daa has appointed property consultants Savills Hotels & Leisure to seek expressions of interest for the development and operation of the new hotel, which will be developed under a Finance, Build Operate and Transfer (FBOT) model. 

The successful bidder will construct the hotel and operate it for a specified period of time, before transferring it back to daa at the end of the agreed term.

Dublin Airport managing director Vincent Harrison said: “This development will benefit not just the airport but the city and region as a whole as Dublin needs more hotel beds. 

“We’re constantly striving to improve the product that we provide to our customers and this new hotel will offer extra choice and convenience to passengers and to the many companies that are based on the Dublin Airport campus.”

Between 2010 and 2015, only four hotels comprising 594 bedrooms were built in Dublin. The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) warned last year that Dublin requires a further 5,000 hotel bedrooms by 2020 to meet demand. 

Savills Ireland Director of Hotels & Leisure Tom Barrett said that there was likely to be significant market demand for the new Dublin Airport hotel development. 

“This is a hugely exciting project,” said Mr Barrett. “If this hotel was trading today, it would be one of the strongest performing hotels in Ireland. 

“Given the unique high profile location and the quality of the offering we anticipate strong interest from developers, investors, hoteliers and brands.”