John Malone-Backed MHL Makes Its Biggest Deal In 10 Years
John Malone-backed MHL Hotel Collection has agreed its biggest acquisition in a decade, purchasing two Dublin Airport hotels from Tifco Hotel Group in a deal worth around €95M.
The transaction, which was marketed by CBRE Hotels and JLL, involves the 209-room Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport and the 214-room Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport, giving MHL its first foothold in Ireland's busiest airport hospitality market.
The acquisition expands the group's portfolio to 16 hotels and more than 2,700 rooms across Ireland.
"The much-anticipated lifting of the 32 million annual passenger cap at Dublin Airport, which is so crucial for Ireland's economic growth, tourism and international connectivity, makes this an excellent time to deploy capital into the Dublin Airport market,” CBRE Ireland Head of Hotels Paul Collins said in a press release.
The acquisition continues rapid expansion for MHL, which has become one of Ireland's largest privately owned hotel operators since its formation in 2013 by U.S. billionaire John Malone alongside Irish hotel investors Paul Higgins and John Lally. Malone is best known as chair of Liberty Media.
MHL has built a portfolio focused on city centre and resort assets and now operates eight hotels in Dublin: InterContinental Dublin, The College Green Hotel, Hilton Dublin, Trinity City Hotel, The Spencer Hotel, The Morgan Hotel, Brooks Hotel and Moxy Dublin City.
MHL completed a €190M refinancing with AIB in May covering four hotels, following refinancing completed on two other Dublin assets in 2025. The enlarged financing package has €50M of green lending linked to sustainability improvements across several properties.
The deal also marks the latest stage in the reshaping of Tifco Hotel Group's portfolio as it continues to recycle capital following a series of disposals.
