Dalata Hotels has revealed plans to open a second hotel in Germany, as it plants its Clayton brand flag in Berlin.
The decisive expansion move comes in mid 2025 at a time when the Irish listed company is in the throes of a restructure that many expect will lead to it being taken private, under new ownership. Despite the ongoing discussions, it appears management are pushing on with growth plans.
A full service four star property
The new hotel will have 274 rooms, and is located in the centre of Berlin on Strasse des 17 Juni, close to the city’s Brandenburg Gate. As well as guest rooms, it will feature a restaurant and bar, meeting and events spaces, a sauna, steam room and fitness centre.
The property belongs to German investment giant Deka Immobilien, which is currently working on an extensive upgrade to the property. Formerly the Novotel Berlin Am Tiergarten hotel, is has closed for works that include upgrades to the building’s efficiency, as well as decorative and branding changes.
When complete, Deka expects the refreshed asset to be certificated to the “Very Good” standard under the internationally recognised BREEAM building efficiency certification system. The property’s green credentials are supported by its connection to a district heating network in central Berlin, providing hot water without the burning of fossil fuels. The building will also benefit from the installation of low energy air handling and air conditioning equipment.
“We are very excited to announce our first hotel in Berlin, a leading global travel destination and a key strategic location in our European expansion strategy,” said Shane Casserly, deputy CEO at Dalata. “The fully refurbished hotel will be ideally positioned to benefit from Berlin’s rich mix of cultural, historical, sporting, and business events and attractions. We value deeply our partnerships, and we look forward to expanding our footprint in Germany and continuing our strong relationship with Deka.”
Dalata put a toe into the German hotel market in 2022, when it opened the Clayton hotel in Dusseldorf. The company rebranded the former Nikko Hotel, in collaboration with landlord Art Invest Real Estate. The 393 room property has since traded strongly, giving Dalata confidence to grow further in the German market.
Expansion across Europe
The company has also added hotels in Amsterdam and, more recently signed to open a Clayton branded hotel in Madrid. With a strong market presence in Ireland and the UK, the group is keen to add further mainland European destinations to its portfolio.
Among pipeline properties in those markets are the Clayton Hotel Edinburgh, a conversion property that should launch by mid 2026. This is one of two hotels in the city planned for the Clayton brand, with a second, larger hotel with 256 rooms expected to be built for opening in 2028. And in the City of London, a 154 room property will be launched in the shadow of the Tower 42 skyscraper, in 2028.
