Belfast Hotel Owner Acquires City Centre Site for £8.75m
A Belfast hotel and leisure group, Andras House, recently made headlines by finalizing a £8.75 million deal to acquire the Travelodge on Brunswick Street in the heart of Belfast city centre. This acquisition marks a significant move for Andras House, a property development and hospitality company boasting an impressive portfolio of over 1,300 guest rooms across 12 hotels and apartment properties in Belfast, including renowned brands like Crowne Plaza, Hampton by Hilton, and Holiday Inn.
Historic Building Revived
The building on Brunswick Street has a rich history, originally constructed by Andras House in 1991 and operating as The Belfast Plaza and later as a Holiday Inn before being purchased by Travelodge in the mid-1990s. Now, Andras House is bringing new life to this iconic city centre site, with plans for a comprehensive refurbishment of the 90-room hotel in alignment with Travelodge’s ongoing upgrades throughout the UK estate.
Rajesh Rana, Director of Andras House, expressed excitement over the acquisition, stating, “We are pleased to add this well-placed asset in the heart of Belfast city centre to our portfolio. Travelodge is a strong brand at the budget end of the UK market which people recognise and understand, and we are delighted to be its franchise operator in Northern Ireland. It is a vote of confidence in Andras House’s expertise and experience.”
Strategic Growth and Development
The strategic acquisition of the Travelodge was made possible with the support of Danske Bank, a key player in facilitating Andras House’s growth in the hospitality sector. Paul Currid, Corporate Banking Manager at Danske Bank, highlighted the significance of the deal, commenting, “Andras House is one of Northern Ireland’s most successful hospitality businesses and Danske Bank has supported it with funding for a number of significant transactions in recent years. We were pleased to be able to play a part in enabling the company to complete its latest investment.”
Looking ahead, Andras House has ambitious plans for further expansion and development in the region. This summer, the company is gearing up to open The Marcus Portrush, a part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, just in time for The Open golf tournament returning to Northern Ireland for the second time in 70 years. Additionally, work is set to commence on transforming Dorchester House on Great Victoria Street into a 136-bedroom Adagio Aparthotel in February, with plans in the pipeline for a 165-bedroom Yotel in Shaftesbury Square.
In 2024, Danske Bank also played a pivotal role in funding Andras House’s acquisition of the ETAP Hotel on the Dublin Road in Belfast from CBRE, further solidifying the company’s position as a key player in the local hotel market. This strategic growth trajectory positions Andras House for continued success as leisure and business tourism thrive in Northern Ireland.
Closing the deal on the Travelodge acquisition is a significant milestone for Andras House, underscoring the company’s commitment to revitalizing key properties in Belfast city centre and beyond. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from this dynamic hospitality group as they pave the way for a vibrant future in the region.
