Leonardo Hotel Dublin Christchurch has completed a €7.6 million refurbishment covering all 182 guest bedrooms and the hotel's public areas. The project, designed by Cunningham McLean, added air conditioning to every bedroom and refreshed the reception, bar and restaurant.

Fattal Leonardo Operation (Ireland) Ltd, which operates the Leonardo-branded portfolio in Ireland, reported revenue of €60.5 million last year, up 13 per cent, though pre-tax profits fell 84 per cent to €2.29 million.

Leonardo Hotels is the European arm of Israeli-owned Fattal Hotel Group, which operates more than 300 hotels across 21 countries. In Ireland and the UK the group runs almost 60 hotels under the Leonardo, Leonardo Royal and NYX brands.

The upgraded room mix now includes 164 standard bedrooms, 18 executive rooms, eight family rooms and 100 triple rooms. Every refurbished bedroom features a laptop safe, mini fridge, tea and coffee facilities, a King Koil DREAM bed, a 50-inch Smart TV, a rainfall shower and USB and USB-C charging sockets, with executive rooms adding a Nespresso machine.

The hotel's reception and bar have undergone a full refurbishment, with the restaurant also refreshed and new high-top workspaces featuring wireless charging points added to the bar. The hotel sits opposite Christ Church Cathedral, within walking distance of Temple Bar, Dublin Castle, St Patrick's Cathedral and Grafton Street.

The structural driver is design-led reinvestment in an established city-centre asset, refreshing rooms and public areas to defend rate and occupancy against newer openings in central Dublin rather than pursuing room-count expansion.

"We are delighted to unveil the completion of this €7.6 million refurbishment, representing a significant investment in both our hotel and the experience we offer every guest," said Kate Dowling, hotel manager at Leonardo Hotel Dublin Christchurch.

"From our signature DREAM beds and luxurious rainfall showers to the addition of air conditioning in every bedroom and newly designed social spaces with wireless charging facilities, every element of the refurbishment has been carefully considered," Dowling added.

For the sector, the Christchurch refurbishment reflects a wider pattern of Dublin hotel operators reinvesting in existing city-centre stock as new supply and higher operating costs squeeze established properties.

Source: Hotel & Restaurant Times / RTÉ / Irish Examiner