The Fattal Hotel Group is an Israeli-founded international hospitality company that owns and operates more than 300 hotels across 21 countries. Controlled by founder David Fattal, who holds roughly 51 percent of the publicly traded shares on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, the group has expanded rapidly through its flagship Leonardo Hotels brand and a mix of owned, leased, and managed properties. This article examines who owns the group, how its finances stack up, and what its recent moves — including a £920.9 million takeover offer for PPHE Hotel Group — mean for travelers and investors.
Last checked: 2026-06-27
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Founder: David Fattal · Founded: 1998 · Headquarters: Israel · Current scale: 300+ hotels in 21 countries
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-06-27.
Sources reviewed: official hotel group website, corporate financial disclosures, Forbes, business news media (Yahoo Finance, Hotel Investment Today), industry trade publications (Hospitality Net, Hospitality ON), CB Insights, LinkedIn company profile, German Wikipedia.
No on-site visit, no staff interview, and no independent financial audit were conducted. Data depends on the accuracy of the sources cited.
Fattal Hotel Group at a glance
- Founder David Fattal owns approximately 51% of Fattal Holdings (1998) Ltd, giving him majority control despite its public listing. (Forbes)
- Founded in 1998 by Israeli hotelier David Fattal, who had previously managed major Israeli hotels such as Dan Accadia Herzliya and King Solomon’s Palace in Eilat. (Hospitality ON)
- Over 300 hotels, more than 50,000 rooms, across roughly 120 destinations in 21 countries. (Hospitality Net)
- Fattal Holdings (1998) Ltd is listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange; as of March 2026 its market cap was roughly 10.2 billion ILS. (FinancialReports.eu)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founder | David Fattal |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Azrieli Center, Triangle Tower, 35th floor, Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Current scale | 300+ hotels in 21 countries |
| Key brands | Leonardo Hotels, Leonardo Royal, NYX lifestyle hotels, all-inclusive resorts |
| Ownership structure | Publicly traded (TASE) with founder majority control (c. 51%) |
| Major institutional investor | Migdal Insurance and Financial Services (c. 10% stake) |
| CEO | David Fattal (Owner & CEO) |
| Chairman | Yuval Bronstein |
Who is the owner of Fattal Hotel Group?
David Fattal, an Israeli hotelier who started his career as a waiter, founded the group in 1998. According to Forbes, he owns roughly 51% of Fattal Holdings (1998) Ltd, the publicly traded parent company listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. That majority stake gives him effective control over the group’s strategic decisions, including acquisitions and brand expansions. The group’s official website lists him as both owner and CEO.
The remaining shares are held by other investors. A significant institutional stake belongs to Migdal, Israel’s leading insurance and financial services group, which the Fattal Hotel Group website says acquired a 10% stake. An official shareholder-structure chart on the group’s financial information page illustrates the mix of founder, institutional, and public shareholders.
The bottom line: Fattal Hotel Group is a publicly traded company, but founder David Fattal’s majority ownership means it operates like a founder-controlled business.
Is Leonardo Hotels an Israeli company?
Leonardo Hotels, the group’s flagship European brand, is owned by Fattal Hotel Group, an Israeli company. Therefore Leonardo Hotels operates under Israeli ownership. The group’s about page confirms this structure: Fattal’s management team includes a regional CEO for Central Europe — where Leonardo Hotels has a strong presence — alongside separate regional leaders for the Mediterranean and for Benelux, Spain, and the UK.
In Europe, the Leonardo brand accounts for around 150 hotels, according to Fattal Hotels’ LinkedIn company profile. The brand covers midscale and upscale properties across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Benelux countries, the UK, and other European markets. Fattal’s model in Europe often uses lease agreements rather than outright ownership, which allows faster portfolio growth without the capital requirements of buying properties.
For many years now the Fattal name has been synonymous with innovation in the hotel industry.
— Hospitality ON profile of Fattal Hotels
The pattern: The corporate nationality is Israeli; the brand identity is pan-European.
Who owns the Leonardo chain of hotels?
The Leonardo chain is owned by Fattal Hotel Group, which operates it as its primary European brand. The group’s website shows that regional CEOs manage Leonardo operations in Central Europe, the Mediterranean, and the UK/Benelux/Spain region under the Fattal corporate umbrella. This organizational clarity means a guest checking into a Leonardo Hotel in Berlin or Brussels is staying at a property ultimately owned and operated by an Israeli group.
The portfolio’s scale is substantial. Hospitality Net reports that the entire Fattal group (including its Israel-only brands like U Hotels, Herods, and Magic) operates over 300 hotels and more than 50,000 rooms. The Leonardo brand represents the bulk of the European inventory.
The implication: For travelers, the brand name “Leonardo” doesn’t reveal the ownership — but that ownership is consistently Fattal Group.
Who owns Leonardo Hotels Ireland?
Leonardo Hotels Ireland is part of Fattal Hotel Group. The Irish arm has faced a sharp financial downturn: according to recent business news reports, profits at the Irish operations sank by 84%. The Fattal Group website places Ireland under the regional CEO for the UK, Benelux, and Spain, indicating a coordinated management structure for those markets.
Despite the profit plunge in Ireland, the group continues to expand. In May 2026, Fattal made a non-binding offer of £22 per share to acquire full ownership of UK-listed PPHE Hotel Group, Yahoo Finance reported, valuing PPHE at roughly £920.9 million (US$1.24 billion). If completed, that acquisition would integrate PPHE’s Park Plaza and art’otel brands into Fattal’s portfolio, deepening its footprint in the UK and Ireland.
What to watch: How Fattal’s 2026 takeover bid for PPHE Hotel Group progresses will determine whether Leonardo Hotels Ireland gains new corporate siblings — and whether the group can reverse the Irish operation’s recent losses.
Timeline: Fattal’s growth from 1998 to 2026
- 1998 — David Fattal founds Fattal Hotels and signs his first management agreement for Le Meridien Eilat, launching the group’s hotel management business (Hospitality ON).
- Post-founding (undated, pre-2020s) — Migdal Insurance and Financial Services acquires a 10% stake in Fattal, adding a major institutional investor (Fattal Hotel Group website).
- 2021 — Fattal conducts a US$430 million funding round to expand ownership and lease opportunities across Israel, Europe, and the UK & Ireland (Hotel Investment Today).
- May 2026 — Fattal submits a non-binding £920.9 million offer to acquire full ownership of UK-listed PPHE Hotel Group at £22 per share (Yahoo Finance).
Alternatives to Fattal Hotel Group
Our pick: Fattal Hotel Group for vertically integrated, founder-controlled hospitality
For business travelers and leisure travelers alike, Fattal offers a distinctive mix: a single founder-controlled company that both owns and operates its hotels (particularly in Israel) and uses a flexible lease model for rapid European expansion. Budget-conscious travelers may find Leonardo Hotels’ midscale positioning attractive, while the NYX lifestyle brand targets a younger demographic. The group’s 2026 bid for PPHE Hotel Group suggests an ambition to add Park Plaza and art’otel properties, which would broaden options for corporate travelers in the UK and Ireland.
| Hotel Group | Founder/CEO | Headquarters | Number of Hotels | Key Brands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fattal Hotel Group | David Fattal | Tel Aviv, Israel | 300+ | Leonardo Hotels, Leonardo Royal, NYX |
| Accor | Sébastien Bazin (CEO) | Paris, France | 5,000+ | ibis, Novotel, Mercure, Sofitel |
| IHG Hotels & Resorts | Elie Maalouf (CEO) | Windsor, UK | 6,000+ | Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental |
| Marriott International | Tony Capuano (CEO) | Bethesda, USA | 8,000+ | Marriott, Sheraton, Ritz-Carlton |
Compared to global giants like Accor, IHG, and Marriott, Fattal remains a smaller player in terms of room count, but its founder-controlled structure and hybrid ownership/lease model give it an agility that larger chains sometimes lack. For travelers seeking a consistent midscale European brand with Israeli corporate backing, Leonardo Hotels offers a clear alternative to the bigger groups.
fattalhotelgroup.com
The Leonardo Hotel Dublin is one of several properties managed by the Fattal Hotels group across Europe.
Frequently asked questions
What brands does Fattal Hotel Group own?
Fattal owns and operates Leonardo Hotels, Leonardo Royal, NYX lifestyle hotels, and several all-inclusive resort brands. In Israel, it operates under brands including U Hotels, Herods, and Magic. The group’s Hospitality Net profile lists 300+ properties across these brands.
How many hotels does Fattal Hotel Group operate?
As of 2025, the group operates over 300 hotels with more than 50,000 rooms across roughly 120 destinations in 21 countries, according to Hospitality Net.
Where is Fattal Hotel Group headquartered?
The group’s corporate headquarters is at the Azrieli Center, Triangle Tower, 35th floor, Tel Aviv, Israel, as listed by CB Insights.
When was Fattal Hotel Group founded?
David Fattal founded Fattal Hotels in 1998. His first management agreement was for Le Meridien Eilat, according to Hospitality ON.
Who is David Fattal?
David Fattal is an Israeli hotelier who started as a waiter and founded Fattal Hotels in 1998. He owns approximately 51% of Fattal Holdings (1998) Ltd and serves as its CEO, according to Forbes and the company website.
What is the financial performance of Leonardo Hotels?
For the Fattal group overall, recent reports show an annual loss of almost £60 million even as sales doubled. The Irish arm saw profits sink 84%. Meanwhile, the group’s 2026 bid to acquire PPHE Hotel Group valued PPHE at £920.9 million, as Yahoo Finance reported.