Plans are afoot to revamp a former church into a 50-bedroom, four-star Titanic-themed hotel at Shankill Road, Belfast.
Drennan McBride of Argyle Business Centre, who are to take control of the building, said that there are "at least five" interested parties in the hotel project, adding that a completed feasibility study along with an economic appraisal came back positive, reports the Belfast Telegraph.
"We were thinking that with the university coming, the mission could be turned into managed accommodation. But that idea progressed through a backpackers' hostel to developing a four-star hotel with a focus on training," he added.
Elsewhere in Belfast, work has commenced at a proposed boutique hotel at the old Harland & Wolff offices in the Titanic Quarter, reports the Belfast Telegraph. The hotel had been awarded a £4.9 million grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund to regenerate the site, which has lay vacant since 1989.
A planning application for a new 144-bedroom, £14 million hotel at Ebrington, Derry, is to be submitted to Derry and Strabane District Council in early spring.
Sinn Féin Foyle Assembly candidate, Raymond McCartney, commented: "This new hotel is aimed primarily at the growing golfing market and is due to open for business in June 2019, in line with the Open Golf Championship coming to the North."
Upon completion, it will have leisure, banquet and conference facilities and will result in the creation of 100 jobs, reports derryjournal.com.
