78 | THE LOCAL TOURIST


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Work Begins at Dunadry Spa Garden Following £600k Investment


The premium spa garden at the award- winning hotel


represents a further


BUILDING work has started on a new thermal spa garden at the Dunadry Hotel & Gardens, offering exclusive access for guests staying in the 10 bedrooms that will form part of the new retreat.


New Culloden Estate & Stories Parfums Part- nership is The Perfect Scent


THE Culloden Estate & Spa has announced that it has appointed Stories Parfums as the hotel’s first ever fragrance partner. The leading


5-star


property has teamed up with Northern Ireland’s first luxury, niche perfume house,


which has been


created by local business woman Tonya Kidd-Beggs, to be the Co Down-based company’s first and exclusive luxury hotel retail partner.


Hourly Enterprise Services between Belfast and Dublin to Begin


Visit Belfast Awarded ‘Best Event Destination UK’


BELFAST has once again asserted its position as a premier destination for business tourism and events, securing the city’s status as an unbeatable host destination at this year’s Conference & Incentive Travel (C&IT) awards. Visit Belfast, the city region’s


destination marketing organisation (DMO) secured ‘Best Event Destination UK’ at the annual awards – the most influential in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition tourism sector, recognising quality across the industry and celebrating excellence in hospitality, event planning, venues and in destination appeal.


between Belfast and Dublin from Mondays to Saturdays, up from eight each way previously, and eight each way on Sundays (up from six each way previously). This increased level of service will offer more choice and flexibility for customers between the two cities and for those that travel to/from interim stations. The enhanced connectivity is set to bring many benefits


for business, retail and tourism, help tackle the climate emergency and provide a boost to the thriving all-island economy. Chris Conway, Chief Executive of Translink said: "An hourly Enterprise service is a massive boost


for people, communities, and the environment and represents a tremendous opportunity for economic growth. "We welcome the funding provided by the Government


HOURLY Enterprise services between the


new Belfast Grand Central Station and Dublin’s Connolly Station have commenced. With funding


the hourly service


Government of Ireland, from the Shared Island Fund and Department of


of €25 million provided by the Transport,


represents the most significant expansion of services on the route in over a quarter of a century. Fifteen services will operate in each direction


of Ireland, under the Shared Island Fund, and the close cooperation with Iarnród Éireann, which has allowed this expansion to be delivered."


Tourism NI Awards Belfast Self-Catering Property Five Stars


A self-catering property in Belfast city centre has


been awarded a five-star accommodation grade by Tourism Northern Ireland. Wilton House, which is located at College Square North, is


made up of 23 self-catering apartments situated within a listed, Georgian townhouse with private gated parking. Located just a short stroll from Belfast city centre, the


apartments, which have been meticulously restored and renovated, are tastefully decorated to a high standard offering comfort and sophistication throughout.


TOURISM Northern Ireland has described the recent Amgen Irish Open in Co Down as “incredibly successful.” More than 71,000 fans descended


on


Newcastle during the five-day event, which was held this year at Royal County Down Golf Club. Despite hopes that homegrown favourite


Rory McIlroy would clinch his first professional win on home soil, it was Denmark’s Rasmus


Højgaard who holed out twice to pip the popular Holywood man to the win. The Amgen Irish Open also supported


a local charity, as fans who attended the event helped raise more than £200,000 for Make-A-Wish Ireland. The event was


successfully delivered


by DP World Tour, with the support of a range of local partners, including Tourism NI, Royal County Down Golf Club, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, the emergency services and a host of Northern Ireland Government departments. Television coverage of the tournament had a potential broadcast reach of more than 500 million homes around the globe.


investment of £600,000 by the McKeever Hotel Group and follows the recent opening of The Cellar, its showcase Irish whiskey venue. With a maximum capacity of 20 guests, the private access spa garden has been designed to reflect ‘luxury, tranquillity and escapism’. The aim is to provide an intimate and exclusive space with direct access from the guest bedrooms where they can enjoy hot tubs, sauna, cool water plunge, glass house and relaxation areas. The investment reflects the growing demand for health and wellness, as well as providing an alternative for those seeking high end, inclusive staycations. Designed and


constructed by


Newtownabbey-based contractor, Pure Fitout, the spa garden, which is located in what once was the hotel’s private courtyard, is expected to be completed by mid-November.


Tourism NI Hails Amgen Irish Open As An ‘Incredible Success’


November/Decmber 2024


Speaking about the latest development at the Dunadry, McKeever Hotel Group Managing


Director, Eddie McKeever


said: “Wellness continues to transform the hospitality sector with demand for sanctuary spa spaces soaring as consumers become increasingly health conscious. While we’ve always offered facilities such as the Health & Fitness Club and massage therapies to guests, we realised there was a gap in the market for a premium retreat experience. “Even for those who aren’t necessarily health and wellness focused, our new spa allows us to tap into the luxury staycation market, offering a bespoke experience to couples, honeymooners and parents wanting a quality child-free, relaxing break.”


Commenting on the changes, Dunadry Hotel and Gardens General Manager, Paul Quinn said: “The Dunadry has undergone significant development in recent years, creating a much more up-market look and feel, complete with specialist offerings to broaden its appeal to the tourism market. “Our new spa comes a few months after the opening of The Cellar, a private venue to showcase and taste an extensive range of premium Irish whiskeys and fine wines. These unique attractions will only complement each other. “Much of this development have been driven by the ever changing needs and demands


of experience.” our guests, visitors and


corporate clients. It also reflects how our, “we do more” ethos applies across our staff,


our culture and our guest


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