52 | THE LOCAL TOURIST THE LOCAL TOURIST


WHITBREAD PLC has committed to opening an 81-bedroom Premier Inn hotel at Belfast International Airport. The company, which currently operates


seven Premier Inn hotels in Northern Ireland, signed an agreement-for-lease with JHT Hotels Limited, a subsidiary of Northern


Ireland developer


Turkington and Sons in late December, paving the way for the delivery of the new hotel in 2026. The Belfast


Airport development


will bring Premier Inn’s signature combination of quality and affordability to Northern Ireland. The hotel will


feature an on-site


restaurant and bar, dedicated parking facilities with 125 car spaces and seven mobility-impaired spaces, landscaped grounds, and improved site access. Local planning authority Antrim


and Newtownabbey Borough Council granted planning permission for the development in mid-November 2024, paving the way for construction of the new hotel to begin in 2025. Around 30 new permanent roles will


be created at the hotel when the doors open in mid-2026. Jill Anderson, Acquisition Manager for Whitbread, said “Securing such a


Belfast Hotel Awarded Four Stars by Tourism NI


A BELFAST city centre hotel has been awarded a four-star accommodation grade by Tourism Northern Ireland. voco Belfast, an IHG Hotel, which is located within The Gasworks on the Ormeau Road, officially opened in


July following a multi-million-pound


refurbishment. With a visually appealing exterior


thanks to its striking red-brick, the interior was found to be equally as pleasing with spacious and contemporary rooms. A new restaurant and bar area was also found to be another standout feature. Ruairi McLaughlin, General Manager


at voco Belfast, said: “We are delighted to receive our four-star accreditation from Tourism Northern Ireland following our multi-million-pound upgrade and rebrand as the city’s newest international brand. “Travellers now are savvier than


ever when it comes to choosing their accommodation. this


accolade from Tourism


Having achieved NI,


our


guests can be confident of exceptional standards across service, cleanliness and our culinary offering. “As the first voco on the island of


Ireland, we are committed to offering a fantastic experience for all of our guests and working with our partners in Tourism NI to exceed expectations every day.”


CELEBRATING a successful first year of its two-year charity partnership, Belfast’s Grand Opera House has announced that over £55,000 has been raised for its official charity partner, The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity. The local charity is dedicated to ensuring


that children and young people from across Northern Ireland receive the highest quality care and family support during their cancer treatment at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity


was chosen as the Grand Opera House’s charity partner by staff and over the last year the Theatre has raised significant funds through audience collections, as well as an ongoing programme of fundraising activity


and events by the Theatre’s employees. Some highlights from the first year of


the partnership includes the Grand Opera House staff abseiling down the front of the Europa Hotel and relay teams participating in the 2024 Belfast City Marathon, as well as a festive visit from the pantomime’s cast to the Unit to meet some of the children, young people and their families. The second year


of


begins concert


the partnership


with a celebratory fundraising this month, Broadway & Beyond.


This show has been specially curated by House Manager, Nicole Hooley and Creative Learning Assistant, Lucy Walton from the Grand Opera House team. It will run in the Theatre’s Studio for two nights and has received phenomenal support with not a spare seat in the house.


Grand Opera House Raises Over £55,000 for the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity


Ian Wilson, Chief Executive of the Grand


Opera House, said:“A huge heartfelt thank you to our audiences, staff and cast who have played a stellar role in reaching this incredible milestone of raising £55,000 for the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity. “The Grand


Opera House Trust is


committed to making an impact both on and off-stage, and we know that every pound raised helps the charity to continue its exceptional work, making a difference to the lives of many patients and their families. “A huge round of applause to everyone


involved for their incredible support and generosity, and we look forward to kicking off year two by celebrating this wonderful achievement together at our Broadway & Beyond show in aid of the Children’s Cancer Unit Charity later this month.” Jane Hoare, CEO of The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity, said: “We have been blown away by the


support from all at the Grand Opera House, including the Theatre’s staff, audiences and even cast members. To have reached more than £55,000 within the first year of the partnership is nothing short of incredible, and we want to say a huge thank-you to everyone who has contributed to this total. “While undoubtedly, the financial


support will go a long way to help the charity continue its vital support services, so too does the generosity of the Theatre’s team in terms of their time. From staff volunteering at our cheer stations at last year’s Belfast City Marathon and hosting families for Theatre tours, and a special invitation to the dress rehearsal for The Pantomime Adventures of Peter Pan, the team’s commitment to the charity and the families we support has been so impressive. This commitment has


even extended


to some of the stars on stage, as we were delighted to have received a very special visit to the Unit from some of the pantomime’s cast. “After a fantastic first year, we are excited


to see what 2025 brings and we look forward to continuing our work with the great team at the Grand Opera House.”To show your support and donate today visit the Grand Opera House at justgiving.com or visit childrenscancerunit.com.


www.nitravelnews.com J H


www.nitravelnews.com


February 2025


New Hotel Set To Open at Belfast International Airport


prime location at Belfast International Airport reinforces our commitment to growing our network in key travel hubs across the UK and Ireland. The site offers an exceptional opportunity to serve the airport’s six million passengers annually, providing them with the


quality, comfort, and affordability Premier Inn is known for. The Belfast acquisition is the third airport hotel we have signed in six months, reflecting the consistently strong and growing demand for travel and the excellent investment opportunities these locations offer.”


hotel will be constructed at the junctions of Airport Road, Antrim Road and British Roads – opposite the airport’s popular long-stay car park and within easy walking


The new Belfast International Airport distance of the airport terminal building.


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