Hilton has announced plans to bring the Tapestry Collection by Hilton brand to Northern Ireland, with an opening in the seaside town of Portrush, as part of a franchise agreement with Andras House.
The 83-room hotel includes a café, restaurant, bar and is located near the city of Belfast, the Bushmills Whiskey Distillery and UNESCO World Heritage Site the Giant’s Causeway on the Atlantic coast.
Portrush will also host the 153rd Open in 2025, marking the return of the golf tournament to Northern Ireland after the 2019 event.
Renovation Project
The site of of the new hotel is a listed building on Main Street that served as a hotel and artisan bakery for more than 85 years between 1895 and the 1980s,
Hilton said the renovation project will return the site of this listed building on Main Street to its former glory, embracing the area’s culture and restoring and extending the historic building.
Drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscape, the hotel brand said the colour scheme will reflect the coastline and landscape and the design will celebrate the history of Portrush, a Victorian tourist resort and will retain features including the building’s original mosaic signage.
'Captivating Country'
“Northern Ireland has seen a significant jump in tourism in recent years, with travellers coming from all over the world to experience the charm of this captivating country," said Graham Dodd, managing director, development, UK & Ireland at Hilton.
"Portrush continues to experience growing demand for high-quality accommodation that provides an authentic experience rooted in local culture, making it the perfect location for Northern Ireland’s first Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel.”
Local Economy
As part of the planning permission, Andras House commissioned an Economic Impact Statement, with the hotel projected to boost the local economy by £1.6 million and visitor spending by £1.1 million annually (€1.27 million), creating new opportunities for surrounding businesses.
It will also see almost 70 jobs created during construction and over 40 jobs once the hotel begins operation.
'International Visitors'
“The Marcus Hotel Portrush, Tapestry Collection by Hilton will bring contemporary branded hotel accommodation to Portrush and will attract international visitors to the north coast area," said Janice Gault, chief executive, Northern Ireland Hotel Federation.
"The Giant’s Causeway is Northern Ireland’s most popular tourist attraction, with one million visitors in 2019. This project will allow more guests to stay in the Council area, increasing visitor spend and investment locally.”
