54 | THE LOCAL TOURIST


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Major New Adventure Park Plans Announced For Giant’s Park Development


Galgorm Resort Becomes First Northern Irish Member of Elegant Hotel Collection GALGORM


resort, Northern


Ireland’s premier luxury resort and spa, has been announced as the latest independent prestigious hotel to join Elegant Hotel Collection, the pioneering luxury soft brand that recently celebrated its first anniversary. Set within 500 acres of parkland


on the North Antrim Coast, Galgorm Resort enhances


the Elegant Hotel


Collection, meeting the high standards expected of member hotels, bringing the total exclusive membership to 32 properties worldwide. Featuring


201 luxurious


accommodations, the resort offers a diverse range of options, including Deluxe, Junior,


and Signature


Suites, Log Cabins, Cottage Suites, Shepherd’s Huts, Forest Dens, and exclusive Residences. Ideally located near both Belfast airports, Galgorm also


winning restaurants and bars, well


as extensive conference and


banqueting facilities catering to both leisure visitors and corporate groups. As part of the Galgorm Collection,


which recently expanded with the acquisitions of Roe Park Resort and


includes


Galgorm Castle Estate, the portfolio also


The Rabbit Hotel &


Retreat, The Old Inn, and two Belfast city centre restaurants, ensuring a diverse and exceptional hospitality experience. Providing global sales, marketing, revenue opportunities to Elegant


and


independent luxury hotels, diversify


its


Hotel Collection will support Galgorm to


market outreach.


Expanding the market reach to target high-value discerning luxury travellers in the UK and USA, as well as executive and corporate contracts for MICE and Group bookings. Leigh Heggarty,


Business


Development Manager, Galgorm Resort, commented: “We are thrilled to join the Elegant Hotel Collection, a partnership that opens the door to unparalleled global sales, marketing, and


boasts a selection of award- as


collaboration aligns


revenue opportunities. This perfectly with


our commitment to exceeding guest expectations while expanding


our


presence in key international markets. As the first Northern Ireland property to join the collection, we are proud to represent our region on this prestigious platform.


AMBITIOUS plans for a giant-themed urban adventure park and nature sanctuary have been announced as part of a landmark public-private sector venture. The Giant’s Park development will transform


a 250-acre former landfill site on Dargan Road in north Belfast and create over 1,000 permanent jobs when completed. The initial phase of the project will see a


160-acre portion of the site transformed into a new adventure park,


for mixed use, with construction


potentially getting underway as early as winter 2025, subject to planning permission being granted. Plans


distribution and


logistics hubs and other commercial zones on the remaining 90 acres of the site are currently being finalised. The adventure park plans have been revealed the signing


following of a development


February 2025


agreement between landowner Belfast City Council and developer Giant’s Park Belfast Limited. Kevin McKay, Chief Executive of Giant’s


Park Belfast Limited said: “For the first time in over 60 years Belfast will see the return of public access to its coastal environment with the regeneration of


the north


foreshore of the city, and the creation of a unique Adventure Park sitting alongside a designated area of ecological importance near the shoreline where community, educational facilities and more adventure experiences are planned. “The shoreline provides a natural and


rich haven where large colonies of a variety of birds and other wildlife thrive. It has become quite rich in species diversity over the last 10 years or so creating a natural haven and feeding place for a large variety of birds and other wildlife.”


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