Leonardo Hotels, a renowned hotel chain headquartered in Berlin, has grown into a major player in the global hospitality industry. Boasting over 160 properties worldwide (as of August 2022), Leonardo Hotels is a subsidiary of the Fattal Hotel Group, a testament to the vision of its founder, David Fattal.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Expansion
David Fattal, a visionary hotelier hailing from Haifa, Israel, established the Fattal Hotel Group in 2006. At the time, he was already a successful businessman leading the tourism company Fattal Holdings Ltd based in Tel Aviv. The very first Leonardo Hotel opened its doors in Nuremberg, Germany, in 2006, marking the start of an ambitious journey. The distinctive Leonardo Hotels logo was registered with the German Patent and Trademark Office in 2007, followed by international registration in 2008.
Fattal saw Leonardo Hotels as a stepping stone to expanding his hotel portfolio internationally. He began by acquiring hotels in Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland. This expansion, fueled by a combination of the company’s own funds and investments from various sources, continued steadily. Leonardo Hotels ventured into Israel around 2009, followed by acquisitions and new constructions in Hungary (starting in 2011), Austria (starting in 2012), the United Kingdom (starting in 2015), Spain (starting in 2015), Italy (since 2015), the Netherlands (since 2016), the Czech Republic (since 2016), Ireland (since 2017), Poland (since 2017), and Romania (since 2021). This relentless pursuit of growth led the hotel group to announce a dedicated fund in April 2022, specifically designed to fuel further expansion across Europe.
A Global Network: Operations and Leadership
The Leonardo Hotel chain falls under the umbrella of Fattal Holdings (1998) Ltd. Its 100% subsidiary, Sunflower Management GmbH & Co. KG, serves as the administrative hub for European operations. Ownership of Leonardo Hotels rests with either Fattal Holdings or its subsidiaries, or the hotels are managed under lease agreements. In 2021, Leonardo Hotels Central Europe alone employed a workforce of 2,700 individuals.
Yoram Biton, born in Israel in 1967, leads the Leonardo Hotels Central Europe business unit as Managing Director from the company’s Berlin headquarters. The Leonardo Hotels family boasts a diverse range of brands, including Leonardo Hotels, Leonardo Boutique Hotels, Leonardo Royal Hotels, and NYX Hotels by Leonardo Hotels (as of August 2022).
A Legacy of Acquisitions and Growth
As of August 2022, the Leonardo Hotel group, encompassing its main brand and sub-brands, had a portfolio of over 160 hotels, with a significant concentration in German cities. The group’s largest acquisitions to date include the Jurys Inn hotels in the United Kingdom and Ireland (51 hotels, as of April 2022), the Apollo Hotels in the Netherlands and Belgium (13 hotels, as of August 2018), and a collection of six hotels in the Balearic Islands.
Leonardo Hotels, a testament to the dedication and vision of David Fattal, has solidified its position as a global hospitality leader, with a strong footprint in Europe and beyond. The company’s commitment to continuous expansion, coupled with a diverse range of brands and exceptional service, ensures a bright future for this dynamic hotel chain.
