New Luxury Hotel at Ben-Gurion Airport Approved After Years of Planning

Israel has approved construction of a new luxury hotel inside Ben-Gurion Airport, ending a planning process that began in 2013. The National Licensing Authority in the Planning Administration approved the building permit last weekend for the project, which is being promoted by the Israel Airports Authority and is meant to serve travelers and airline crews.

The hotel, which is expected to begin construction in about a year and open in several years, will be a five-star property with eight floors, about 260 rooms, and more than 31,000 square meters of space. Reuven Alex, CEO and partner at Brown Hotels, said the airport has needed such a facility for years because traffic has grown significantly and many passengers fly at inconvenient hours.

Speaking on Mako's "News Morning" with Niv Raskin, Alex said the hotel will be directly connected to Terminal 3 through the regular check-in area and a bridge. He said the property will include commercial space, a large spa, a rooftop with views of planes taking off, and a large conference hall. According to him, the airport's activity will double, and the hotel will be physically integrated into the terminal.

Alex said some airport procedures may also be handled through the hotel itself. "You will be able to do everything through the hotel," he said, adding that baggage handling and security are still being discussed. "A person staying at the hotel will be able to complete part of the process before entering the airport." He added that parking is part of the project and said Brown acquired the right to build the hotel, with work on the plan underway since 2018. Alex estimated completion in four years.