The family-owned Belfast hospitality and development group Andras House is set to expand its portfolio of hotels and aparthotels in the city to ten.
The company, headed by Rajesh Rana, has confirmed it will develop a new 165-room property for YOTEL next to Shaftesbury Square.
The London-based hotel chain, founded by YO! Sushi founder Simon Woodroffe, has signed up for the £17 million project at the junction of Botanic Avenue and Donegall Pass.
The development site at 2-12 Botanic Avenue was acquired by Andras House last year for £1.7m.
It’s understood the deal was completed shortly before Andras acquired the nearby ETAP Hotel on Dublin Road for £7.35m.
The YOTEL deal will be the third hotel or aparthotel in development by Andras House to the south of the city centre.
The InterContinental Hotels Group has signed up for the 132-room Staybridge Suites Belfast, which is due to open in the Bedford Street area during 2027.
Andras also secured planning permission in June to redevelop the former HMRC offices at Dorchester House on Great Victoria Street into a 136-room aparthotel for Adagio.
The trio of new projects will join the Rana family’s existing portfolio of hotels, which includes the Crowne Plaza, Hampton by Hilton and two Holiday Inn hotels in Belfast.
The group also operate three Ibis hotels and are developing the 83-bed Marcus Hotel in Portrush.
Commenting on his latest deal, Rajesh Rana said: “The investment of £17m will provide a modern accommodation option for global travellers and create high quality jobs for the community, establishing the hotel as a major asset to the growing tourism market in Belfast.
“The development will play an important role in transforming Shaftesbury Square, providing physical regeneration and bringing visitors to this important area,” he added.
The company has now engaged with the planning process, with a view to beginning development in 2025. YOTEL is eyeing an opening in late 2026.
YOTEL chief development officer Rohan Thakkar said: “YOTEL Belfast marks an exciting step forward in our global franchise strategy and strengthens our portfolio as the 35th signed hotel, bringing our total key count to nearly 8,000.”
The fast growing hotel chain’s major shareholders include a controlled affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, the Talal Jassim Al-Bahar Group, United Investment Portugal, and Kuwait Real Estate Company.
