Coming off the back of a busy summer in the North West, in which the Foyle Maritime Festival, LegenDerry Food Festival and concerts throughout June and July took centre stage, it’s fair to say that our hospitality and tourism sectors are well and truly thriving! Recent weeks saw hotel occupancy rates reaching 100%, while our bars, shops, restaurants and local businesses received a well-deserved boost.

Adding to this, a complete refurbishment of the Redcastle Oceanfront Golf & Spa Hotel, Inishowen has been unveiled! Located on the picturesque shores of Lough Foyle, the ambitious re-development marks a hugely positive step forward for the hotel following a challenging few years for the industry.

Representing over half a million euros in investment, 94 of the Redcastle’s rooms have been upgraded completing the hotel’s entire bedroom stock following an earlier revamp.

Built on the site of the 18th century Redcastle Estate, the 4-star Redcastle Hotel, Golf and Spa is already an established and popular choice for families, romantic getaways, weddings, golf groups and those exploring the North West’s rich tourism offering. With further investment to come later this year, the hotel’s refurbishment comes at real boom-period for the local hospitality industry.

Owen McGee, General Manager at Redcastle Hotel said, “We are delighted with the results of our refurbishment so far. This ongoing investment is a strong statement of our hope for the future and of our continued success as one of the most renowned hotels in the north-west of Ireland.”

Joining in on the boom, well-known Derry hotel, Da Vinci’s is currently undergoing a full refurbishment of their stock of rooms. With the aim of modernising, Da Vinci’s have already kitted out new studio apartments, with a view to further upgrades starting in November ahead of the peak Spring and Summer seasons.

Bringing a blend of corporate clients, families, couples and tourists to the hear of the city, the Hotel’s refurbishment is well-placed to support the continued economic boost that Derry has been enjoying of late!

Drawing in locals from near and far – with the Derry City and Strabane area alone recording almost 1.1 million overnight trips in 2019 – one thing is for sure, North West tourism is booming with a thriving hospitality sector in support!