Double Blow For NI Hotel Industry

Northern Ireland's hospitality industry has been dealt a double blow with the announcement that the Marine Hotel in Ballycastle, Co Antrim and Lough Erne golf and hotel resort in Co Fermanagh have been placed in administration.

The Marine hotel was owned by property developer Mervyn McAlister, who was declared bankrupt earlier this year, and has been closed for some time. The Northern Bank called in administrators this week.

The developer had separately planned to build what would have been Belfast's tallest skyscraper.

The scheme to develop a 37-storey skyscraper called the Aurora at a site on Great Victoria Street was blocked by planners and in January, Anglo Irish Bank put the site into receivership.

The Lough Erne golf and hotel resort, which is a major employer in Fermanagh, was also placed in administration this week.

Former Tourism Minister and DUP MLA, Arlene Foster, has said the Lough Erne golf and hotel resort in County Fermanagh should be sold as a going concern.

The five star hotel and golf resort opened in October 2007, but has been in financial difficulties.

Ms Foster said she wants to see the employees being put first and commented: "I spoke to the owner of the hotel, Jim Treacy, yesterday and I know that he wanted very much to continue to try to find solutions, but the bank felt that they wanted to call in the administrators and I very much regret that."

"What we must do now is to continue to have stability for the resort because it does provide a lot of employment for Co Fermanagh.

"It is really the jewel in the tourism crown as far as Fermanagh is concerned and indeed I would argue, very much the west of Northern Ireland."

Fermanagh and South Tyrone Alliance representative Hannah Su has also expressed sadness that the Lough Erne Golf and Hotel Resort has been placed into administration.

Ms Su said: "This is a prestigious and world class resort which employs many people and I am very sad at the news that it has gone into administration.

"Every effort must be made to ensure that jobs are secure and that this business keeps on running.

"This is an amazing resort in an absolutely breathtaking location, and the tourism potential it holds is massive. These are tough economic times and this is very troubling news. It is absolutely vital that this resort continues to operate."

Joint administrators, John Hansen and Stuart Irwin of KPMG said it was their intention to maintain "business as usual", honouring bookings for weddings and golfing breaks.

He added that they wished to keep the "workforce intact".

(JG/BMcC)