Business

Belfast has 1,384 new hotel bedrooms in the pipeline, new report shows

Designs have been redrawn for JMK's new hotel project next to Titanic Belfast.
Enabling works have already started for JMK's new Titanic Quarter hotel and aparthotel project, which will trade as Aloft Hotel/Residence Inn by Marriott.
By Ryan McAleer

Belfast has 1,384 new bedrooms either in development or in the planning system, new analysis shows.

A report by Construction Information Systems (CIS) Ireland found 13 hotel projects at various stages of development in the city during 2023.

According to the Northern Ireland Hotel Federation, there are already 39 hotels in Belfast with a total of 5,040 rooms.

Last year saw planning approval granted to another eight hotel developments in Belfast, including a 163-bedroom hotel at Centre House on Chichester Street; a 20-bed hotel on Hill Street; and a 132-unit aparthotel on Bedford Street.

Three more projects are either in pre-planning or have submitted applications, including The Dean Hotel on Bedford Street.

According to CIS, contracts have been awarded for two of the 13 projects.

Farrans has started enabling works for JMK’s Titanic Quarter development, which will see 135 hotel bedrooms and 93 aparthotel units developed next to Titanic Belfast.

Meanwhile, it’s understood that Toomebridge-based Edgewater Contracts will be the main contractor for the new 120-bedroom in Waring Street’s former war memorial building.

The company shares the same ownership as SOM Properties, which secured planning approval last year for the Cathedral Quarter hotel.

Image released in support of the proposal for a new 91-bedroom hotel on Belfast's Bedford Street, operated by the Press Up Group.
The Dean Hotel was announced in 2023 by Dublin's Press Up Group. Although originally envisaged as a 91-bed project, CIS said it could eventually be developed into as many as 146-units.

The CIS report acknowledged that during one week in November 2023, Belfast City Council planners approved no less than five hotels.

The report states: “The approvals will help meet rising visitor demand in the city and to further contribute to Belfast’s economic growth.”

The new hotel brands due to open in Belfast include Aloft Hotel/Residence Inn by Marriott; Staybridge Suites by IHG; Moxy by Marriott; and Voco Belfast, which is due to open in the former Radisson Blu Hotel in Belfast’s Gasworks.