E+H advises Leonardo Hotels in acquiring the LEONARDO SMART Hotel at Vienna International Airport

E+H Rechtsanwälte provided comprehensive legal advice and support to Leonardo Hotels in acquiring the new LEONARDO SMART Hotel.

With this successful transaction, Leonardo Hotels has secured a strategically significant hotel project in one of Central Europe’s most important transportation and economic hubs. Scheduled for completion in late 2025, the hotel will feature 510 rooms and is set to open on 25 June 2026, as the first property under the new LEONARDO SMART Hotels brand. It is also Europe’s largest hotel constructed using timber.

The hotel is located in the immediate vicinity of Vienna International Airport and offers guests modern amenities and services, including a spacious breakfast area, a hotel bar, and a fitness center. The innovative concept combines modern technology, efficient operational processes, and contemporary comfort with a consistent commitment to sustainability. Built using a hybrid timber construction method, the property sets new standards across Europe for sustainable hotel development and combines environmental responsibility with a high-quality guest experience for both business and leisure travelers.

The transaction involved the acquisition of the hotel building, including the associated financing. Due to the international scope of the deal involving four different jurisdictions, and the large number of parties involved, the transaction required close legal and organizational coordination at both the national and international levels. E+H acted as international transaction counsel to Leonardo Hotels throughout all phases of the transaction – from the legal due diligence and the negotiation of the transaction and financing documentation through to the signing and closing of the transaction.

“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 A. Ofenheimer, partner at E+H Rechtsanwälte. The E+H 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.”

With this acquisition, Leonardo Hotels strengthens its market position in Austria and expands its portfolio to include a landmark project at a central European airport location. As the first property under the new LEONARDO SMART Hotels brand, the LEONARDO SMART Hotel Vienna Airport will also play a central role in the group’s ongoing European expansion strategy.