The Louis Fitzgerald Family, one of the largest family-run hospitality groups in the country, has announced that its acquisition of the luxurious 4-star Imperial Hotel in Cork City is now complete.

The family business, headed by Louis Fitzgerald and now in its 54th year, has a longstanding track record of acquiring landmark properties, so the timeless 200-year-old Imperial Hotel is the perfect addition to their impressive portfolio.  The Group includes the Arlington Hotel, Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, An Poitin Stil, The Stag’s Head, Kehoes Pub, The Quays Bar Galway and most recently, Murphy’s Bar in Galway.

Staff and locals alike welcome that the Grande Dame, as it’s fondly known, will move from one Irish owned family business to another, bucking the trend of international investments, and that the family places great emphasis on ensuring the legacy, history and character of their hotels, pubs and bars are carried forward for future generations to enjoy.

Commenting on the purchase, Louis Fitzgerald said, ‘We have been an admirer of the Imperial Hotel for some time. The Hotel has an incredible history and has built a fantastic reputation as one of the country’s most luxurious and boutique city hotels to stay in. This is a credit to the team in place there, and we look forward to working with them to continue to innovate.

We have been looking for the right opportunity to expand into the Cork market for a number of years and The Imperial, with its rich history and association with Michael Collins, is a great fit for what we stand for.

Cork City is steeped in great culture and creativity and future developments in the pipeline are very exciting. We look forward to being a part of it. On a personal note, the Flynn family have been a pleasure to deal with throughout the process. It is very satisfying to see the Imperial move from one Irish family to another and to carry on its great heritage, particularly in a time when we see so many Irish hotels being bought by international investment funds.”

After successfully navigating the organisation through the pandemic, the Fitzgerald family are positively looking forward to continued growth and development over the coming years.

The Imperial boasts a rich history and has welcomed high profile names over the past 200 years including actress Grace Kelly, Prince Rainier of Monaco, Michael Collins, and many others. With 132 guest rooms, multiple dining options, and conference facilities, the hotel is a popular choice for both leisure and business traveller.