52 | THE LOCAL TOURIST
www.nitravelnews.com THE LOCAL TOURIST
HUB-IN Funding Brings Innovative Visitor Experiences to Belfast’s Maritime Mile
£120,000 of funding has been awarded to six proposals from Belfast’s creative and digital businesses,
artists and
innovators to develop innovative visitor experiences to animate and enrich the city’s Maritime Mile. They will collaborate with heritage organisations and communities along the Maritime Mile to develop prototypes which use technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, to encourage more visitors and local people to explore the historic area which connects attractions, sculptures and viewing points on both sides of the River Lagan. The projects are being supported by
the Belfast HUB-IN (Hub of Innovation) programme, developed by Belfast City Council’s City Innovation Office in partnership with the Maritime Belfast Trust and funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 initiative, to explore how
people who worked on this First World War ship through WebXR, 3D animation and storytelling. Big Telly Theatre Company – will develop
a digital and live interactive experience along the Maritime Mile. The adventure will begin at The Big Fish sculpture where visitors can talk to an AI Salmon of Knowledge, before engaging with live performers and 3D holographic experiences at City Quays, St Joseph’s Church, and Sailortown. Community partners include Belfast based artist Corrina Askin, The America Bar and Sailortown Regeneration. Darin Smyth – Darin Smyth, in partnership with Belfast Metropolitan College, will develop a new immersive digital experience, Maritime Echoes: An AI Voyage to the Past, bringing local historical figures to life using the latest AI technology. Visitors will be able to engage in ‘conversations’ with pioneer of Belfast
February 2024
Belfast City Council Give Green Light on New Titanic Quarter Accommodation
BELFAST City Council give green light on new hotel development at Hamilton Dock, Titanic Quarter. Approval granted for a new hotel, next to Titanic Belfast, to include both hotel and apartment-style accommodation, conference facilities and a rooftop bar. The seven-storey, 256-bedroom hotel/
apart hotel is being developed by JMK Group, to be operated as Aloft Hotel and Residence Inn by Marriott. The proposal represents an investment of £36m and will create an estimated 620
New Exhibition Launches at Ulster Museum
digital innovation can help to sustain, enhance, and preserve the Maritime Mile’s rich and unique heritage. Chair of Belfast City Council’s Strategic
Policy and Resources Committee, Councillor Christina Black said: “HUB-IN is helping to nurture exciting new relationships between Belfast’s heritage and creative industries sectors, communities, and businesses along the Maritime Mile, and supporting people to develop valuable entrepreneurial and digital innovation skills. “I’d like to congratulate the successful applicants for their creativity and commitment to this vision. I can’t wait to see these proposals come to life along the Maritime Mile in the months ahead.” Jenna Crymble, Marketing and Digital Content Officer, Maritime Belfast Trust added: “We are always looking at innovative ways to animate the Maritime Mile to tell the story of our rich maritime heritage. We are delighted that HUB-IN is supporting and enabling new, exciting collaborations between creative industry partners and existing communities and we have been blown away by the interest and calibre of the applications. These projects will give local people and visitors even more reasons to visit the Maritime Mile in 2024 and be part of our journey in developing and delivering an iconic waterfront for Belfast.” The successful applicants are being supported to develop a series of prototypes: Aura Digital Studios Limited – will
create an Augmented Reality experience highlighting HMS Caroline’s heritage. The free-to-download mobile app will give a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the
shipbuilding William Ritchie; chairman of Harland and Wolff during the Titanic era Lord Pirrie; social reformer Mary Ann McCracken; Captain Henry Ralph Crooke, who led HMS Caroline during the Battle of Jutland; and a linen mill worker from the early 20th century. Flax & Teal – will develop interactive
3D/VR rooms along the Maritime Mile, giving visitors a lens into the generations who shaped the area. They’ll work with the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and local communities to develop new 2D and 3D experiences, using images, video, audio, and historic maps to tell local stories. Katya Solomatina – will develop ‘Memory Anchors’, a fine art initiative designed to engage people of all ages to discover new ways of expressing feelings through interactive digital sculpture and storytelling. The artist will collaborate with the Sailortown community on digital sculpting, AI-driven verbal art, photogrammetry and NeRF scanning (extracting 3D information from 2D images), sound recording, and improvisational storytelling to create immersive art pieces. Ulster Touring Opera – will work with EastSide Partnership and Whitepot Studios to develop a new immersive experience along the Yardman’s Trail using cutting edge technology such as 3D film, AI and Augmented Reality. The Yardman’s Trail celebrates the heritage links between east Belfast and the Maritime Mile, and visitors will be able to download a free app and experience residents telling their stories about the area.
Guinness Storehouse Celebrates 1.5 Million Visitors in 2023 THE Guinness
Storehouse welcomed
over 1.5m visitors from 165 countries in 2023, increasing its total visitor numbers by 32% this year. Since opening in 2000, the Guinness Storehouse has welcomed more than 24 million Guinness lovers through its famous black gates in The
A NEW exhibition has opened this week at the Ulster Museum celebrating twenty-five years of the North South Implementation Bodies. The North South Bodies were established in 1999 as a direct result of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The purpose of the Bodies is to enhance cooperation and co- delivery on areas of mutual interest and collaboration across the island of Ireland. The work of the Bodies covers
a wide range of industries and sectors including cross-border trade, environment, health, language, culture, and investment. The North South Bodies are; Special
EU Programmes Body, Waterways Ireland, Food Safety Promotion Board, InterTradeIreland, Loughs Agency, Foras na Gaeilge, Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch and Tourism Ireland. The new exhibition at the Ulster Museum, which is entitled “North South 25”, has been developed in partnership between the North South Bodies and National Museums NI. The exhibition is made up of
eight informative panels, each one dedicated to the work of a specific Body. The exhibition will be on permanent display in the Lecture Theatre at the Ulster Museum throughout 2024 .
construction jobs. This will be a fantastic addition to JMK`s portfolio. The group currently have seven hotels in operation across UK and Ireland including the newly opened Hampton by Hilton Dublin City Centre and two hotels under construction in Cork, to be operated as Moxy Hotel and Residence Inn by Marriott. JMK Group said, “We are excited about entering the Belfast market. Titanic Quarter is a fabulous location with promising future plans, and we look forward to opening our doors to our first aparthotel.”
Belfast Named One of the Top 10 Most Sustainable Destinations
IN a significant accolade, Belfast has secured a spot among the 10 most sustainable destinations globally, as revealed by the esteemed Tripadvisor’ Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best. This recognition is reserved for the absolute best of the best, with less than 1% of Tripadvisor’s 8 million listings attaining this honour. For eco-conscious travellers, Belfast emerges as a destination of sustainability, backed not just by words but by measurable actions. The commitment to sustainable responsibility is verified through comprehensive assessments by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement and Tripadvisor. This achievement positions Belfast
as a leader in sustainable tourism, showcasing a dedication that goes beyond expectations. As we celebrate this recognition, Belfast invites travellers to experience a destination committed to both exceptional experiences and responsible travel.
Famous London Restaurant Set to Open in Belfast
LONDON’s famous Ivy restaurant is coming to Belfast later this year. The restaurant chain is now beginning fit out at part of the former Cleaver House building at Donegall Place.
The news comes two years after the Belfast Telegraph revealed the chain was taking over the site. It’s also understood the restaurant could be open in time for Christmas this year.
Liberties to experience the history, heart and soul of Ireland’s most iconic brand. The Guinness Storehouse, recently named
the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2023 at the World Travel Awards in Dubai, has contin- ued its focus on curating premium experiences to attract international visitors.
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