Hard Rock plans entry into Irish hotel market

Hard Rock International is partnering with Ireland-based hotel company Tifco to enter the Irish hotel market with the Hard Rock Hotel Dublin in 2020.

Hard Rock Hotel Dublin in Dublin's city center will have two structures: the existing listed property originally known as the Exchange Buildings and currently the site of the Parliament Hotel and the adjacent Fashion House Building.

Hard Rock will rebuild the Fashion House and transform the building into the new hotel entrance and reception. A new glass link bridge will connect the Fashion House Building to the refurbished Parliament building. The hotel group will restore the original red brick façade of the Parliament building. However, the interiors of the building will be completely redesigned. The hotel will have 120 guestrooms and suites once the renovations are complete. 

"Ireland has always been a place close to our hearts, and it only seems right to open a Hard Rock Hotel in Dublin, given the city's musical roots. This is an exciting opportunity to extend our presence in Europe and elevate the one-of-a-kind offering at Hard Rock Hotels to the next level," Todd Hricko, SVP & head of global hotel development for Hard Rock International, said in a statement. 

Hard Rock Hotel Dublin will be within the commercial center of the city. The property is close to Temple Bar and Dublin's landmarks and attractions, such as Trinity College, Grafton Street, St. Stephen's Green and the Guinness Storehouse. The hotel is also near Irish cultural centers and institutions, including the Gallery of Photography, the Olympia Theatre, the National Library Photographic Archive, Smock Alley Theatre and the Irish Film Institute.

"Dublin's vibrant cultural scene makes it one of the hottest European cities to visit, attracting over 5.5 million overseas visitors annually. Hard Rock Hotel is an iconic, global brand that will be bringing something very different in its own distinctive style to this vibrant part of the capital city," Enda O'Meara, CEO of Tifco, said in a statement.