Belfast’s va va room!

50% city hotel numbers boost

The number of hotel rooms in Belfast has increased by a 50% in a year, according to a new report from Lambert Smith Hampton.

The commercial property agent’s Belfast Hotel Market Snapshot 2018 showed 1,170 new rooms have been delivered over the last 12 months and a further 183 are to be available before Easter.

Despite the increase in supply, room rates appear to have held strong as visitor numbers increase but rates could “soften” in the coming months, according to Dr Claire Cole, senior research analyst at Lambert Smith Hampton.

She said: “The latest Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency data indicates tourism will continue to grow, with forecasts of 5million visitor trips to Northern Ireland per annum and a spend of £1billion. However, in the short term, Belfast hotel occupancy rates, average room rates and revenue per available room (REVPAR) are likely to soften as the city adjusts to the unprecedented level of additional supply.” The report said the average daily room rate in Belfast rose by 25% to £81.65 and the REVPAR went up 29% to £66.11 between 2015 and the first half of this year.

Belfast has the third highest average room rate and REVPAR in the UK and Ireland after Dublin and Edinburgh – above the well-known mini break locations of Manchester and Glasgow.

Key developments completed this year include the Grand Central Hotel (4 star, 304 rooms), Maldron Hotel (3 star, 237 rooms), AC Hotel Marriott (4 star, 188 rooms) and Hampton by Hilton (3 star, 179 rooms). Across four hotels, an additional 183 rooms are under construction and due for delivery before Easter 2019.

These include the George Best Hotel (63 rooms) and Bank Square Boutique Hotel (17 rooms).

Dr Cole added: “Recent developments have been principally in the 3 and 4 star markets, creating a gap in the market for 5 star hotels not currently represented in the city but which are synonymous with truly great cities. “When that happens, Belfast can justifiably claim to be in the elite of European destinations.”