January 2024
www.nitravelnews.com
NI Travel News Sits Down with Lamington Group’s Managing Director...
TEN years since its doors were first opened, and servicing almost six million visitor enquiries over the period, Belfast’s Welcome Centre is celebrating a milestone anniversary. The city’s flagship visitor information office, operated by Visit Belfast, opened to the public and tourists just before Christmas in 2013. Over the past decade, more than 2.3 visitors have crossed the doors of the centre on Donegall Square North, with Visit Belfast travel advisors fielding a total of 5,906,884 queries.
operate short-let apartments in 2005. There was a need to grow that, but how do
BACK in December, NI Travel News caught up with Stuart Godwin, the Managing Director of Lamington Group, and the creator of the Room2 ‘Hometel’ brand. In October 2023, Room2 Hometels celebrated the grand opening of their first property in Belfast, and fourth property overall. During this conversation, Stuart detailed how the Room2 concept was created, why Belfast caught their eye, and what’s up and coming for Room2 in 2024. Where did the idea for Room2 Hometels come from? “Room2 as an idea, a brand name,
was actually conceived back in 2014. The Lamington Group has been operating serviced apartments since 2005, in Hammersmith where we are based. Lamington Group is a 60 year old family business, which started to
you create a better experience than just offering the typical apartment experience? “How do we combine the locality and flexibility that guests experience in an apartment with the service and security of hotels? That was where the Room2 concept was born from, to try and take the best of both those spaces and place it into one property. “Guests are given flexibility
with kitchens in every room, working space, the cafe, the bar, and also the security and service of a hotel.” Room2 Belfast is your first property outside of England, why did Lamington Group select Belfast as their location? “Belfast was one of our most
62 | THE LOCAL TOURIST
sought after cities as it has seen massive growth in recent years, and has become a real gateway city.
“The Lamington Group is looking to grow throughout the UK, and an opportunity in Belfast arose. It is a brilliant property in a brilliant city. When travelling, people want to be enriched by their stay, people really want to experience what it’s like to be in that city. We aimed to create a space that is heavily influenced by the area, and by making it a very authentic stay in the locality is very important for us. “So, when we were planning
for Belfast, it was imperative to utilise the local talent and suppliers. It means that when our guests come to stay at Room2 Belfast, they are surrounded by the stories of Northern Irish and Irish artist and products. An experience that I believe is much more enriching for the guest.”
Unveiled following a £1.82 million investment, the facility proves a “one stop shop” to visitors and residents alike with information accompanied by the ability to book events, shows or accommodation, and a gift shop. Over the last decade since the centre was opened in Donegall
THE LOCAL TOURIST | 63 Visit Belfast Celebrates Significant Milestone
Square North, it has helped welcome 870 cruise ships to the city, along with 1,652,364 cruise visitors, as well as 203,985 delegates attending 631 conferences. Meanwhile, the value of tickets
sold at the Welcome Centre has surpassed £5.5 million. Gerry Lennon, Chief Executive
of Visit Belfast added: “It is hard to believe that 10
years have passed since the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre first opened on Donegall Square. With each passing year we set the bar higher, with 2023 proving a record year for servicing the highest number of cruise ship calls to Belfast, as we continually aim to improve the city’s offer to tourists. “Working with our partners including more than 500 tourism businesses and services, we are proud to act as a catalyst for this gateway city.”
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