New hotel brings fresh wave to hospitality after £3.6 million investment

Located in the historic Gasworks district along the tranquil River Lagan, voco Belfast promises a unique blend of local charm and international sophistication.

The recent opening of voco Belfast, the city’s newest luxury hotel, is set to redefine hospitality in Belfast city centre. With “voco” meaning “to welcome in” from Latin—the hotel aims to bring a warm and inviting ethos.

Purchased by Cliste Hospitality in November 2023, the hotel began a major refurbishment programme earlier this year. Cliste Hospitality is a leading hotel operator in the Republic of Ireland, managing 14 hotels. voco Belfast is their first investment in Belfast and they are looking at further hotel opportunities in Northern Ireland.

The hotel is also part of the prestigious IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies with more than 6,000 international locations.

The launch of voco Belfast was attended by over 200 guests including John McGrillen, Chief Executive of Tourism NI, and Eddie McKeever, President, and Janice Gault, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation.

The former Radisson Blu hotel now features an array of accommodation options, catering to every type of traveller. Blending design-led comfort with genuine local charm, the hotel’s creative interior architects O Donnell O Neill Design focused on creating an upscale, laid-back aesthetic. With 120 rooms that invite you to unwind and indulge in some well-deserved ‘me time,’ voco Belfast sets a new standard for comfort and elegance in the city.

Danielle McGinley, director of sales and marketing at voco Belfast, said: “It’s an exciting time to open such a stylish new offering in a city that really appreciates style. It has been a pleasure to work together with our partners to ensure that voco Belfast stands out as a distinctive destination for guests to enjoy.

“We appreciate all the input and hard work from IHG, ODON Design, and Pure Fitout, as well as from the voco Belfast and Cliste Hospitality teams, to allow us gather to celebrate this opening, and we are very much looking forward to introducing our guests to this new upscale experience on the doorstep of everything Belfast has to offer.”