French hotel group Accor is set to take over management of Ireland’s Carton House, and plans to rebrand it as a Fairmont by the end of 2020.
The historic property, built in 1739, will get a multi-million euro refurbishment before it is reflagged, to “bring it up to the globally-recognised Fairmont brand standards.”
Set 25 minutes west of Dublin in Maynooth, County Kildare, the 1,100-acre estate dates to 1176.
The hotel will become the oldest property in the Fairmont portfolio, and the first in Ireland.
Fairmont has two UK hotels: The Savoy in London and Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland, as well as the upcoming Fairmont Windsor Park.
Fairmont Carton House will have 170 bedrooms and suites, up from the current 165.
The renovation will add a new entrance through a courtyard, where guests will be greeted by a porter for a tour of the ground floor rooms, including the Gold Salon (below).
Guests will also have a new dining options, with The Morrison Room turned into a fine dining restaurant and the old kitchens reimagined as Kathleen’s Kitchen, a Mediterranean-style bistro.
The new Courtyard bar will serve a light menu as well as spirits, wines and cocktails.
The hotel also features two 18-hole golf courses, a swimming pool, spa treatment rooms and 1,000 sqm of conference and events space.
Marc Dardenne, Accor’s COO for luxury brands in Europe, commented: “Fairmont was established over 100 years ago, in 1907, and throughout this time has played an important role in cementing the locations where its hotels are based as key destinations for visitors.
“Luxury travel experiences should focus on delivering fantastic, second-to-none service which embodies the heart of the destination, so visitors feel they are staying somewhere unique. Fairmont Carton House will do just that, whether guests are visiting for the golf resort, spa or hotel.”
The hotel will continue to be owned by US-based luxury property investors Belmullet Hospitality Group.
Paris-based Accor has moved to an “asset light” model, with hotels managed and operated rather than owned or leased. At the same time, it has been growing its brand portfolio, which now includes 39 names.
The group reported record results in 2019, making €4 billion (£3.4 billion) in revenue, and €464 million (£388 million) in net profit.
This year it will launch a Visa payment card for members of its Accor Live Limitless loyalty programme.