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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Hilton unveils its first property on north coast following £11m renovation
The 80-room Marcus Portrush is a Tapestry Collection by Hilton venue, and marks Hilton's first presence on the north coast. Its opening takes place ahead of golf extravaganza The Open at Royal Portrush in July. Andras House, led by chief executive Rajesh Rana, had carried out an £11m renovation on an old Victorian-era hotel on Main Street where The Marcus is now located. According to an economic impact assessment carried out by Andras House, the hotel is tipped to boost the economy in the area by £1.1m in annual visitor spending, while creating over 40 permanent jobs. Hilton said the restoration 'carefully preserves historic features, including original mosaic signage, decorative floor mosaics reflecting the site's rich hospitality heritage, and the restored tiled façade'. The company said the new hotel's name, 'whimsical design' and 'coastal charm' were inspired by fictional character Marcus, described as a 'comic book-style adventurer'. Children staying at the hotel are to receive a complimentary storybook about his adventures. There are historical photographs on display in the hotel to celebrate Portrush's heritage as a Victorian tourist resort, while the interior design is said to draw inspiration from the surrounding coastline. The hotel has an Asian fusion restaurant, Nemesis, featuring classics like sirloin steak, as well as Asian dishes. And its cocktail bar has been designed to evoke 'the charm of snug harbour bars, with low ceilings, rich textures, and a warm, intimate atmosphere'. Its cocktail menu includes Poitín with mango. Stephen Cassidy, senior vice president, UK & Ireland, Hilton, said: 'Northern Ireland has seen a strong rise in tourism in recent years, drawing travellers from around the world to experience its unique charm. "As the only internationally branded hotel in Portrush, The Marcus Portrush, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, offers high-quality accommodation with an authentic local touch – making it the perfect base for visitors eager to explore all that Northern Ireland has to offer.' Rajesh Rana, director at Andras House, said: 'I am delighted to be welcoming our first guests to this exciting and high-profile project. "Portrush has so much history and fond memories created here over the years, and our architects and designers have responded by delivering a scheme that embody these stories in a modern style. "This investment of £11m will bring much needed modern hotel accommodation to the area, helping to regenerate the Main Street of Portrush and secure its future as a must-go tourism destination.'
Belfast Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Danske Bank reports profits of £58.5m for first three months of 2025
But chief executive Vicky Davies warned that the impact of a volatile global trading environment would be felt over the rest of the year. The bank said lending to customers had increased 6% year-on-year to £6.5bn, while customer deposits had also risen 9% to £11.5bn. Pre-tax profits for the first three months were £64m, up 25% from £51.3m in the same period in 2024. Ms Davies said loan impairments – the amount set aside for bad loans – had remained low in quarter one. But with US President Donald Trump announcing tariffs on American imports, she said that in quarter two 'there has been a marked increase in the volatility of the global trading environment - the impact of which will become clearer over the months ahead'. She added: "Costs have increased year-on-year due to inflationary pressures and continued investment to improve customer experience.' She said there had been £330m of business lending approved during the first quarter, with major deals including growth funding for hotel group Andras House, garden centre business Hillmount, Vision Fabrications, Rural Housing and Radius Housing. And the number of new small businesses joining the bank had grown around 60% over the year, Ms Davies said. Over the first quarter, the bank had also approved £185m in mortgage lending – with lending approvals up over 50% year on year. In addition, 67% of first-time buyers had chosen two-year fixed deal in the hope that interest rates would continue to fall. The bank, which has 24 branches, had also opened 3,000 new personal current accounts over the three months, and was offering a £175 switching incentive for people in NI. In addition, business was growing in targeted sectors in Great Britain, with £75m approved in mortgage lending via brokers, while British housing associations were supported through around £85m in lending approvals. Ms Davies added: 'The bank has had a strong start to 2025, but we remain conscious of prevailing risks that may further impact the economy moving forward. "These include elevated levels of geopolitical uncertainty, restrictive impacts on global trade, the risk of inflation rising higher than expected and the possibility of the UK Government further tightening fiscal policy. "As always, we will stay focused on supporting our customers and ensuring we are there for them when they need us.'
