Defence Online

Dublin Airport unveiled more details about its planned new 402 bedroom hotel linked to Terminal 2, which is expected to create 400 new jobs and become Ireland’s fourth biggest hotel when it opens in 2019.According to airport operatorm daa, the new four star hotel will provide employment for 250 people, while an additional 150 new jobs will be generated during the construction phase of the project. 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.The new hotel 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 0.81 acre site between Terminal 2 and the T2 multi-storey car park – and will be located just 95 metres from Terminal 2The airport 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 set a new record for passenger numbers last year when it welcomed more than 25 million people. The airport directly supports almost 15,000 jobs on campus and a total of 97,400 jobs in the wider Irish economy. It is worth €6.6 billion to the Irish economy and is the single biggest generator of economic activity in the State.