LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Ireland and Britain-focussed hotel operator Dalata Hotel Group has signed an agreement for the lease of a new four-star Maldron hotel to be built adjacent to Croke Park Stadium in central Dublin, it announced on Thursday.
The London-listed firm said Croke Park is the third largest stadium in Europe, with a capacity of 82,300 people and annual visitor numbers of more than 1.5 million people, attending a range of sporting and cultural events, conferences, banquets and meetings within the complex.

Additionally, it explained that as part of the strategy for the new hotel development, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) had "ambitious plans" to invest in and develop the conference and banqueting facilities within the stadium itself.

The hotel, which would be located on the junction of Clonliffe Road and Jones's Road, would also feature "excellent" connectivity to the air, road and rail network, with the Drumcondra train station and Aircoach stop a seven minute walk from the hotel.

Dalata said the hotel would also benefit from its proximity to Dublin's city centre, the IFSC and new developments such as the Technological University campus at Grangegorman.

Planning for the hotel was expected to be secured during 2020, with the hotel scheduled to open in the second half of 2023.

The hotel would have around 200 bedrooms, a business centre with six meeting rooms, and bar and restaurant facilities.

Dalata would operate the hotel on a 35-year operating lease, which would be subject to five-year rent reviews linked to the consumer price index.

"The Maldron Hotel Croke Park will be a brand new, four-star property on the doorstep of one of the largest stadiums in Europe, where further expansion of the successful conference and events centre is planned," said chief executive officer Dermot Crowley.

"We are very excited to be involved with such an exciting project in an iconic location for Ireland."

Crowley said Dublin was still a "very attractive" hotel market for Dalata and, although there was a strong pipeline of new hotels coming into the city, demand was still growing off the back of strong economic performance, increased employment and growing visitor numbers.

"We are very enthusiastic about the potential of the Maldron Hotel Croke Park and we are looking forward to partnering with the GAA and helping to develop the overall Croke Park facilities for their patrons."

Peter McKenna, stadium director at Croke Park, added that the organisation was "delighted" to be working with Dalata - the largest hotel operator in Ireland - to deliver the Maldron Hotel Croke Park to the Dublin market.

"The hotel is a vital part of the wider development strategy for the stadium complex and will provide much needed accommodation for GAA fans, conference attendees and museum visitors in the years to come."

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