Irish investment group Tetrarch, owners of the Powerscourt in Wicklow and the Marker hotel in Dublin, is seeking permission to build a "budget boutique" hotel in Dublin city centre.
According to the Irish Times, the group is seeking planning permission from Dublin City Council to build a new 158-bedroom hotel on Sackville Place behind the former Clerys department store, just off O'Connell Street.
The group wants to convert the mostly-unoccupied Sackville House, which it purchased last year for €4 million, to a boutique hotel; a €16 million investment. The hotel would employ 150 staff.
The concept behind the hotel is to offer high-quality rooms in a central location, without the ancillary services that high-end hotels provide. The aim is to attract short-term visitors looking for a good location at an affordable cost.
Chief executive of Tetrarch Michael McElligott said the hotel is a concept that has not been seen in Ireland yet, but he is confident of its success due to growing demand for hotel rooms in Dublin.
“The extension of the Luas line [linking the current red and green lines] and regeneration plans for the area mean we feel confident that the hotel will prove attractive to visitors to Dublin who are looking for a great location, a great price and a great guest experience,” said McElligott.
Tetrarch currently owns a number of hotels in Ireland, including the Poweerscourt (pictured), the Marker, he Mount Juliet in Kilkenny and the Mount Wolseley in Carlow.
