Morrison to reopen in February as a Hilton DoubleTree

Dublin’s Morrison hotel, which was bought last year by billionaire Russian businesswoman Elena Baturina, will reopen next month under Hilton’s DoubleTree brand.

The 138-room hotel on Dublin’s Lower Ormond Quay has undergone a €7 million refurbishment since Ms Baturina bought it from Nama for €22 million last February.

The hotel’s new operator, Martinez Hotels and Resorts, said it had signed a franchise deal with Hilton Worldwide to join its DoubleTree brand.

Globally, about 300 four- and five-star boutique hotels operate under the franchise.

Spokesman Stephen Mulligan said: “We are delighted to be working with Hilton Worldwide to bring the DoubleTree by Hilton brand to Ireland for the first time. When taking the decision to co-operate with Hilton Worldwide, we were careful not to compromise the trademark aspects of The Morrison’s identity and its heritage in Ireland.”

Senior vice president at Hilton Worldwide Patrick Fitzgibbon said he was confident the DoubleTree brand would be a hit here.

The hotel’s lobby and rooms, its bar and restaurants have been redesigned by Dublin architect Nikki O’Donnell. The redesign is understood to feature art and sculptures by a number of prominent Irish designers.

The four- star Morrison, opened in 1999, was part of the bar and hotel chain of the late businessman Hugh O’Regan until Nama app- ointed a receiver in 2010.