DAA in joint venture to build hotel at airport

THE DUBLIN Airport Authority (DAA) yesterday unveiled plans to build a €130 million four-star hotel and a 2,900-space, multi-storey car park in a joint venture with Tifco, an Irish company that operates five hotels, including Clontarf Castle.

The 470-bed hotel will operate under the Crowne Plaza brand and will be linked with the new Terminal 2 facility. Both are planned to open in 2010.

Enda O'Meara, Tifco's managing director, said it would invest €80 million in the project.

Tifco will own and manage the property and pay a rent to DAA. The facility will have 30 conference and meeting rooms, leisure facilities, restaurants and bars.

It will also have access to 400 spaces at the multi-storey car park, which is being developed by the DAA. The remaining 2,500 spaces will be available for car hire and the use of airport passengers.

Tifco is owned by a number of Irish businessmen, including Gerry Houlihan, a leading backer of DID Electrical, and Aidan Crowe, who has been involved in convenience retailing and property.

Mr O'Meara and finance director John O'Connor are also key shareholders in the group.

Tifco operates a number of Crowne Plazas here in addition to Clontarf Castle and turnover is about €50 million a year.

Mr O'Meara said it will open a 188-bed hotel at Blanchardstown in August as part of a €38 million investment.

The company also has a hotel in Stuttgart under the Express by Holiday Inn brand and is planning to open two new properties at Freiburg and Ulm.

The new hotel will compete with two existing properties at the airport - a Radisson SAS and the Clarion - and a slew of others located close to the complex.

Mr O'Meara said Tifco was confident its property would be successful.

"The airport is growing its passenger numbers at a rapid pace and a lot of passengers prefer to stay directly at the airport for catching flights instead of some distance away," he said.

The DAA said about 550 jobs would be created during the construction phase while 350 staff would be employed by the hotel. Tyrone-based McAleer & Rushe will handle construction.

The DAA said it has written to An Bord Pleanála about whether the project should be considered as strategic infrastructure under 2006 legislation or if it should apply for planning to Fingal County Council, its local authority.