Hotel report points to growth across NI
Hotel Federation report points to growth across NI, but some worries persist over staff recruitment.
A new report from the NI Hotels Federation (NIHF) has found evidence that the strong performance which has characterised the sector in Belfast throughout 2016 is now evident in other parts of Northern Ireland as well.
Issuing the report this week, the Federation predicted that there would be 1200 additional hotel rooms in Northern Ireland by 2018, bringing the total to more than 9000. And while it did agree that the bulk of these would be in Belfast, it pointed to a range of expansion projects which are now ongoing in regions across the country.
Speaking to LCN, NIHF chief executive, Janice Gault, said that while the report was not exhaustive and that other projects may well come online during 2017, the current outlook for the hotel sector here was “very positive” in terms of growth and additional business.
Despite a “sluggish” start to trading in 2016, the report says that the summer months were “exceptionally busy” in the hotel sector here, with many venues reporting record trading.
The report identifies a list of 13 projects within Belfast which it expects to complete by 2018, adding more than 1500 additional rooms to the city’s current complement.
But it also spotlights 13 further hotel developments which are at various stages of completion in other regions, particularly in Derry/Londonderry and along the north coast. These include the new Silverwood Hotel at Lough Road in Lurgan; a luxury golf resort at Hillsborough and an independent boutique hotel with 120 bedrooms at Ebrington Square.
If all the projects identified by the Federation are successfully completed, they will lead to more than 1700 additional rooms across Northern Ireland.
The report hints that a number of extensions are planned at properties on the north coast, perhaps in anticipation of the Open golf tournament there in 2019. And it acknowledges that further growth is possible with the re-opening of Me & Mrs Jones in Portstewart; a Portrush town centre project and the sale of the Eglinton Hotel.
In conclusion, the Federation says that the information it has gathered suggests that within the next four years, hotel room stock in NI will have exceeded 10,000.
“Belfast remains the main focus of development but it is important to note that other regions are experiencing growth as well,” adds the report.
“One particular area of concern is staff and the need for more people to work in the sector. The metric that we use is that one hotel bedroom equals one job. Hotels are experiencing considerable challenges in key operational areas and lack of staff may constrain growth in the sector.”
Our picture shows the site of the former Belfast Metropolitan College at Brunswick Street in Belfast where a new Maldron hotel is set to open.
