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Dublin Tourist Hostels: An Emerging Market

March 4, 2025 10 Minute Read

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  • The Covid-19 pandemic impacted many Dublin tourist hostel operations, leading to closures, while the increased pressures on the Irish housing market also led to the conversion of many hostels to emergency accommodation rather than tourism.
  • CBRE estimate that at least 1,300 tourist hostel beds have left the market during the last five years. In Dublin, investors and operators have identified this, and there has been an uptick in activity in the sector over the last 18 months.  
  • The primary Dublin tourist hostels now in operation include Abbey Court Hostel on Bachelors Walk in Dublin 1, Jacobs Inn Hostel on Talbot Place in Dublin 1, Generator Dublin in Dublin 7, and Abigail's Hostel on Aston Quay in Dublin 2. In the last 18 months, some new hostels have entered the Dublin market including Clink I Lár which opened on Abbey Street Upper in December 2023. 
  • The most significant hostel transaction in Dublin was in 2024. The sale of Jacobs Inn Hostel for >€45m reflects the increased value investors and operators are placing on tourist hostels in Dublin due to their strong trading performance since the pandemic.
  • The sale process for the European portfolio of the Generator Hostels group, including its Dublin operation, is now quite advanced. The vendor, Queensgate Investments, is reportedly seeking approx. €800m for the portfolio of 14 hostels.