Israel's Ben Gurion Airport to get first on-site hotel

Ben Gurion International Airport is set to get its first hotel after Brown Hotels, part of the Israel Canada Group, one of the country's leading real estate and hospitality companies, announced this week that it had received approval for a building permit from the National Licensing Authority to move forward with construction near Terminal 3.

The five-star hotel will be the first built on airport grounds, offering accommodations for travelers during overnight layovers and for passengers seeking convenient access to Israel's main international gateway.

“We welcome the approval of the permit,” said Reuven Elkes, CEO and partner at Brown Hotels.

“This is a unique project on a global scale that will be designed by some of Israel’s leading architects. The new hotel will place Ben Gurion Airport at an entirely new standard of comfort, quality and luxury for passengers and visitors at Israel’s main gateway,” he explained.

Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2027 and take approximately four years, with the hotel slated to open in the fall of 2031.

The seven-story hotel will feature about 260 guest rooms, along with restaurants, commercial and service areas, shared workspaces, a swimming pool, spa, conference center and a rooftop viewing area overlooking the airport's runways. Guests will also be able to use check-in counters and preflight services located inside the hotel.

The project is part of a broader development plan being advanced by the Israel Airports Authority in cooperation with private construction firms and related agencies.

The hotel was designed by Mann-Shinar Architects and is intended to integrate with the airport's existing infrastructure.

Liran Ben Ami, a partner at Mann-Shinar and head of the project's development team, said planning took three years and was carried out in cooperation with Brown Hotels, Israel Canada, Yehuda Levy Construction Group and the Israel Airports Authority (IAA).

According to the IAA, Ben Gurion Airport is Israel's primary international gateway, serving both Israeli travelers and visitors from abroad. The airport's main international operations are conducted through Terminal 3, while Terminal 1 serves domestic flights and some low-cost international carriers.

Ben Gurion Airport has undergone significant expansion in recent decades to accommodate growing passenger traffic and remains one of the most technologically advanced and security-conscious airports in the world.