Valor Hospitality will manage the hotel from February 2027, with the hotel rebranding to ‘voco’ by mid-2027.
Travail Hospitality and Valor Hospitality Partners have embarked on a new partnership at a Dublin airport hotel following Travail’s acquisition of the 179-key property, which is set for major transformation in 2027.
Currently trading as Hilton Dublin Airport, the hotel will temporarily be named Northern Cross Dublin Airport before joining IHG’s voco brand following an extensive multi-million-Euro refurbishment programme.
Multi-million-Euro refurbishment
The impressive refurb, which is subject to planning permission, will increase the hotel from 179 to 188 keys, transform the arrival experience and materially upgrade the reception, cafe, bar and restaurant, bedrooms and fitness facilities.
The refurbishment will also introduce two new stunning food and beverage outlets, designed with an independent neighbourhood philosophy. The Design Team is led by LUCA Architects and Studio Delaney.
Valor Hospitality’s first hotel in the Republic of Ireland.
Combining Valor Hospitality’s global management expertise with Travail Hospitality’s vision to deliver a premium guest experience in Dublin, the hotel is set to mark Valor Hospitality’s first hotel in the Republic of Ireland. Key to the partnership is the full rebrand to voco, which is set to commence in February 2027.
voco is IHG Hotels & Resorts’ fastest-growing premium brand, designed to stand out from the crowd by combining the reliability of a global brand with the charm and personality of individual hotels. There are currently 46 open voco properties across Europe and with 29 in the pipeline, demand continues to grow.
Valor Hospitality has supported several hotels through a transition to the brand, including the voco Southampton and voco Fareham-Solent in the UK.
Damien Gaffney, co-founder and Director of Travail Hospitality, commented“
This is an important investment for Travail and reflects our confidence in Dublin’s hotel market and the long-term growth of Dublin Airport. Our ambition is to reposition the property as one of Dublin’s leading airport hotels, combining a comprehensive refurbishment with a distinctive offering and the quality of IHG’s voco brand.”
Leon Kenny, co-founder and Director of Travail Hospitality, added
“In Valor, we have selected an operator with the experience, culture and operational depth to guide the hotel through this transition and support its long-term success. We look forward to working with Valor, IHG and the existing hotel team to create a hotel that is a great place to work for our people and one that both local and overseas guests will enjoy returning to.”
A portfolio of 41 hotels across the UK and Europe, and over 100 globally
Valor Hospitality was chosen for its industry-renowned reputation for delivering high-quality hospitality, with a portfolio of 41 hotels across the UK and Europe, and over 100 globally. This signing follows the opening of the latest hotel in Valor’s UK and Europe portfolio, The Medlock, a Radisson Blu Hotel, a partnership between Manchester City Football Club and Radisson Hotel Group.
As part of the transition, the hotel’s team members will join Valor’s network of hospitality experts, with the UK and European team recently named in The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work list for the third consecutive year. Recruitment efforts have also commenced for a General Manager to lead the hotel, with applications to join Valor’s award-winning team now open.
Euan McGlashan, Global co-founder and CEO of Valor Hospitality, commented:
“Entering Dublin marks a great next chapter for Valor as we grow our presence across Europe. We’ve always been very intentional about our growth, finding the right opportunities in the right markets, with partners who share the same ambition.
“We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Travail and IHG on this venture. I’ve got to know Leon and Damien over the past few years and have enormous respect for what they’ve built. Their journey mirrors our own at Valor in many ways – seeing opportunity, believing in what it could become and having the determination to make it happen.”
Brian McCarthy, President at Valor Hospitality UK & Europe, commented:
“We are very proud to begin this new chapter in Dublin and are eager to get started. Beyond the upcoming rebrand, our immediate priority is to welcome the hotel team into Valor and support them throughout the transition. We look forward to working with Damien, Leon and all at Travail Hospitality. It’s great to be in Dublin.”
