BELFAST's biggest hotel group has announced a £5 million investment to create 60 additional bedrooms in the Queen's Quarter area of the city.
Andras Hotels, which operates five internationally-branded hotels and Cordia Serviced Apartments with over 700 beds in Belfast, has announced the start of a major extension to its Holiday Inn Express property on University Street.
Owned and operated by the group since 1996, the project, due for completion in April 2018, will see 60 additional bedrooms over three floors with 60 car parking spaces, provided over two underground car parking decks and at surface level.
Additionally the hotel lobby and restaurant will be remodelled and the hotel's five meeting rooms will be refurbished with new decor and new audio visual equipment.
Banbridge building firm MSM Contracts has been appointed as contractors, with the company also building the 178-bed Hampton by Hilton property in Belfast city centre for Andras.
Both projects are due for completion in Spring 2018 and are being supported by Danske Bank.
Holiday Inn Express is part of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) - one of the worlds’ most recognisable budget hotel brands.
Andras currently operates three IHG branded hotels in Belfast - Holiday Inn, Belfast City Centre, Crowne Plaza Hotel at Shaw’s Bridge and Holiday Inn Express.
Director of Andras Hotels Rajesh Rana said it was exciting times for the company.
"Work is progressing at Hampton by Hilton and we are now about to commence work with one of our longest-running properties, Holiday Inn Express."
Robert Mackey, managing director of MSM Contracts said he was delighted to continue the firm's partnership with the hotel group.
Having constructed two major Belfast hotel projects under the Ibis brand for Andras Hotels in recent years, we are delighted to have been given the opportunity to further expand our company’s portfolio in the hotel sector.
"We look forward to delivering both projects during Spring 2018 and we wish Rajesh every success in the future at this exciting time for the local hotel industry.”
Senior corporate manager, at Danske Bank Lewis McCallan added that the two new hotel projects would be "fantastic additions" to the tourism market of Belfast and Northern Ireland.
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