IRELAND. Dublin Airport has announced plans for a €100 million investment in a new terminal-linked hotel, in partnership with UK hotel group Arora. A planning application has been filed for a 410-bedroom facility adjacent to Terminal 2, with opening slated for 2024.
The 11-storey hotel – the first to link directly with the terminals – will have a total floor area of 30,566sq m, and will feature meeting rooms, a leisure centre with a gym, steam room, sauna and jacuzzi on the third floor, and a penthouse bar and executive lounge area on the top floor.
Arora currently owns and operates 12 hotels including ten at airports. It has more than 5,000 bedrooms in the greater London area, including at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. The new Dublin Airport hotel, which will have at least a four-star rating, is Arora’s first move into the Irish market.
Following a public tender process, Dublin Airport operator DAA concluded an agreement with Arora for it to design and build, finance and operate a new hotel on a site just in front of the existing Terminal 2 car park. The new hotel, which Arora will operate under a yet to be announced global brand, will be one of the largest hotels in Ireland. The hotel will be operated by Arora under a 100-year lease.
Subject to planning, Arora intends to begin construction of the new hotel later this year or in the first quarter of next year. The project is expected to have a 24-30 month construction phase.
“This investment by Arora is a significant vote of confidence in the long-term prospects of the Irish economy and of Dublin Airport,” said DAA Chief Executive Dalton Philips. “This development will bring very significant benefits for our customers and to the wider economy, both locally and nationally. There is strong demand for terminal-linked hotels, and they are a feature of most large airports.”
Arora Group Founder and Chief Executive Surinder Arora said: “This project is an incredibly exciting milestone for Arora Group, as it will be our first venture outside the UK and the first terminal-linked hotel at Dublin Airport.”
He added: “The Arora Group is the largest owner operator of hotels at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports and has a fantastic pedigree of operating terminal-linked hotels including the Sofitel London Heathrow, Sofitel London Gatwick, Hilton London Gatwick, Crowne Plaza Heathrow Terminal 4, Holiday Inn Express Heathrow Terminal 4 and most recently Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3. We look forward to replicating this success at Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2.”