Leonardo Hotels acquires landmark Vienna Airport hotel project

Scheduled for completion at the end of 2025 and set to open on 25 June 2026, the hotel will comprise 510 rooms and is expected to become a benchmark for sustainable hospitality development in Europe. The project is notably distinguished as Europe’s largest timber-built hotel, reflecting growing investor and operator interest in environmentally responsible real estate assets.

Strategically located adjacent to Vienna International Airport, one of Central Europe’s key transportation and business hubs, the hotel will cater to both business and leisure travellers. The property will feature a large breakfast area, a hotel bar, fitness facilities and a technology-driven operating model designed to enhance efficiency while maintaining a high standard of guest experience.

The development’s hybrid timber construction places sustainability at the heart of the project, combining reduced environmental impact with modern design and operational performance. As environmental considerations continue to influence investment decisions across the hospitality sector, the project represents a significant milestone in the evolution of sustainable hotel infrastructure.

The transaction involved the acquisition of the hotel property together with its financing arrangements. Given the cross-border nature of the deal, spanning four jurisdictions and involving numerous stakeholders, the process required extensive coordination among advisers and transaction parties.

“This transaction brings together several current key themes in the European real estate market: hospitality, infrastructure, sustainability, and international investments. We a pleased to have advised Leonardo Hotels in this strategically significant and highly complex acquisition, which had to be executed within an exceptionally ambitious timeframe, and would like to thank all parties involved for their professional and solution-oriented collaboration,” says Alric Ofenheimer, partner at E+H Rechtsanwälte, acting as transaction counsel and coordinating legal work across the relevant jurisdictions. The team worked closely with local counsel in the Netherlands and Cyprus throughout the transaction

The in-house team of Leonardo Hotels was led by Tamar Cohen (Group General Counsel). Tamar Cohen, Group General Counsel of Leonardo Hotels Group, commented: “This transaction was successfully structured and completed within a short timeframe, reflecting close coordination between all parties involved. We would like to thank the E+H team and all advisors involved for their highly professional advice, strong commitment and excellent delivery within challenging timelines.”

Sophie Stevenard