Hyatt Signs with Realmside for Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin, Marking Brand First in Ireland

Date: May 2018

Location: The Liberties, close to the historic St Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle, Ireland

Name: Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin – opening May 2019, four-star

No. of Keys: 234

Owner: The one-acre site was assembled over several years by Hodson Bay, which is controlled by members of the Roscommon-based O’Sullivan family.

Buyer: Realmside Ltd, an affiliate of Hodson Bay Group, an Irish hotel and property group owned by the O’Sullivan family. The hotel will be managed by Hodson Bay Group Management Ltd.

The Athlone Based and Irish owned Hodson Bay Group currently own and operate The Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone, The Galway Bay Hotel in Galway City and the Sheraton Athlone Hotel and has has significant property development interests.

“We are excited about our first hotel in Ireland,” said Nuno Galvao Pinto, regional vice president, real estate and development, Europe and North Africa for Hyatt.

“The deal for a Hyatt Centric hotel in Dublin reflects our broader strategy to have hotels where guests want to be.

Working with Hodson Bay Group Management Ltd., an experienced owner and operator, fits our strategy of aligning ourselves with key hotel industry players across European markets, with the goal of building long-term relationships.”

Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin is being designed to encourage interaction and engagement with large windows allowing for an immediate view of the bustling Dublin community outside.

The hotel will also feature a state-of-the-art gym and social spaces from which guests will enjoy a wide range of restaurant, bar, café and lounge options, in addition to an expansive conference space for external events.

“We are excited to bring the first Hyatt Centric hotel to Ireland,” said John O’Sullivan, Chairman of Hodson Bay Group. “The Liberties has been inhabited more than 1000 years and is the oldest part of Dublin, which is currently experiencing a complete regeneration as part of Dublin City Council’s plans to create a launch pad to explore the culture and heritage of the city.

The Hyatt Centric brand is perfect for guests who want to immerse themselves in the heart of this vibrant city.”

Price: €50m development budget

Price per Key: around €215k

THPT Comment: The plans for Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin demonstrate strong continued growth for the Hyatt Centric brand in Europe.

Hyatt Centric is a lifestyle brand competing with the likes of Marriott’s Renaissance or Edition and Intercontinental’s Kimpton or Indigo brands in “prime” city centre locations.

Irish tourism is on a fantastic upswing, with a 202-bed Marriott Aloft and a 138-bed Maldron Hotel set to open in the Liberties alone this year.

It targets “millennial-minded travellers who want to be in the middle of the action”, with facilities ranging from locally-inspired food to salon-grade blow-dryers and lobby iPads offering neighbourhood tips and info.

The Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin will be joining Hyatt Centric La Rosière, in France, Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid in Spain and Hyatt Centric Levent Istanbul in Turkey, all of which opened in 2017. Further Hyatt Centric Yalikavak Bodrum, Turkey, is planned to open in Summer 2019.

Hyatt Centric hotels operate in 20 cities, including New York, Madrid and Tokyo. Standard room rates at the Madrid hotel start from around €250 in June.

First Seen: Hotel Online