News

Andras Hotels have completed a £500K investment at Holiday Inn® Belfast and launched the first ‘Open Lobby’ concept in the island of Ireland. Open Lobby is the new global model from Holiday Inn® for the reception, bar and restaurant areas in its hotels creating a truly innovation approach to how a hotel’s public areas can look, feel and function. Gone are the the traditional hotel lobby, lounge, bar and restaurant areas, which have been replaced with a flexible and fun series of spaces where guests can check-in, dine and blend work and leisure with no barriers. The concept features a bright and relaxed décor with a barrier-free front desk, , the ‘To Go Café’ for 24/7 snacks and Starbucks, a flexible and relaxed area for dining and drinks, a media lounge, complete with comfy seating, games, magazines and TVand an E-Bar business centre, offering an informal space to work, hold a meeting or simply relax in comfort. Central to the Holiday Inn Open Lobby concept is the service style, which is friendly and relaxed, designed to make guests feel welcome and whther travelling for business of leisure. The Open Lobby concept offers fresh food 24 hours a day, a superior breakfast service and a comfortable bar area. This new approach to the productive use of hotel space is being rolled out across the entire Holiday Inn® estate across Europe and will be completed in all hotels by the end of 2019. International designers ADS Design who designed the Belfast project, developed the Open Lobby concept in conjunction with Holiday Inn®, as a response to the way modern business is conducted today and how leisure time is now enjoyed. Speaking at the launch event, Rajesh Rana, Director of Andras Hotels, said: “We are delighted to launch this brand-new Open Lobby at our Holiday Inn Belfast City Centre which is the 100th in Europe. “Holiday Inn has always been about the joy of travel, and the Open Lobby is centred around creating an experience for guests as we invite them to spend time in the lobby zone as an welcoming environment designed around their working and leisure needs. “The concept is based around a relaxed, friendly and attentive guest service experience with the warmth of welcome at the heart of the concept. The space is open, inspiring, comfortable and adaptable.” Rajesh continues. Rajesh concluded: “With this latest half a million-pound investment into our Hope Street Holiday Inn, we are bringing together well-trained and committed staff with a cutting-edge hotel design solely for the comfort and convenience of all our guests. That is our hospitality ethos crystalized.” Philip Taylor , Director - Hotel Performance Delivery said: “Today marks the opening of one of our top-performing hotels in Europe’s Open Lobby concept and is the 100th Holiday Inn hotel in Europe to feature our this unique design. “The Holiday Inn, Belfast City Centre was recently awarded our Elite Status which is given as the highest possible ranking in IHG , and is based on high levels of guest satisfaction. This national recognition reflects the significant effort Andras Hotels has consistently put into attracting, training and retaining the best people for the right jobs in the Belfast property. This combined with our new Open Lobby design makes them one of the most desirable hotels to stay in the city for the business and leisure traveller.” Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Deirdre Hargey, who officially launched the new Open Lobby concept continued: “I would like to congratulate the Andras Hotels team on what is a fantastic new concept offering business and leisure travellers a unique experience in our City. “Andras Hotels has contributed significantly to the economy of Belfast over many years and their continued investment into the tourism and hospitality sector is to be applauded. I wish them every success with their continued growth plans for the Group.” Andras Hotels was founded in Belfast in 1981 and since then has helped to shape and drive the tourism and hospitality landscape of Belfast. It currently operates six internationally-branded hotels with 1,000 beds in Belfast with three from IHGHoliday Inn®, Belfast City Centre, Holiday Inn® Express, and the Crowne Plaza.