Launch of New Irish Whiskey Brand Outwalker
A new name in Irish whiskey – Outwalker – is set to take the market by storm as it launches this week. Representing something genuinely different, this bold offering will stand head and shoulders above others in the sector with its distinctive taste and brand as ‘The Restless Spirit’.
Outwalker is a unique blend of Single Malt aged in white burgundy casks, Pot Still aged in ex-Oloroso Sherry, Grain aged in Virgin American Oak and Grain aged in Rye Casks.
It was developed by one of the world’s foremost drinks authorities Jillian Vose, formerly Beverage Director of New York’s famous Dead Rabbit and now co-owner of the eagerly anticipated Hazel & Apple opening soon in Charleston, South Carolina.
The idea for Outwalker – which was forged many years ago in Belfast’s luxury hotel The Merchant – combines Jillian’s expertise with that of leading Irish hospitality guru Sean Muldoon, co-founder of Dead Rabbit, named twice as the world’s best bar, and co-owner with Jillian of Hazel & Apple; award-winning hotelier and entrepreneur Adrian McLaughlin and hospitality business expert, ex-international rugby player Darren Cave.
Together they have created this new golden honey-coloured premium spirit to be enjoyed whenever, however, and wherever by those with a sense of adventure.
Wholly distilled, blended, aged, and bottled in Ireland, Outwalker is rooted in tradition while reflecting the world of today. With now over 40 distilleries in Ireland producing around 110m LPA of whiskey a year, the Irish whiskey market is booming. In 2021, 14 million cases were sold globally, a 21 per cent increase on 2020, contributing over €700 million to the Irish economy.
Irish whiskey expressions are also increasing in prominence, and in the last 10 years alone the premium market grew a staggering 1,053 per cent, with super premium growing 2,769 per cent according to DISCUS.
Whiskey is now increasingly enjoyed across generations. With the explosion of craft cocktails with whiskey as a prime ingredient, there is undoubtedly a fast-growing appreciation for the spirit, particularly among women and younger drinkers.
The launch of Outwalker is perfectly timed to take advantage of this growing interest in Irish Whiskey, as Sean Muldoon explained: “Outwalker was born to meet the need for a genuinely unique blend of component whiskeys, something that was both a cocktail staple and also good enough to sip on its own.”
Jillian Vose continued: “Through the creation process I researched a lot of grain whiskeys and found two that stood out: one aged in Virgin American oak and another in Rye casks. These combined very well with each other, making a great backbone for the whiskeys.
“The Pot Still aged in ex-Oloroso sherry casks brought richness and body, while the Virgin American oak pulls out a lot of fruit notes from the white burgundy cask single malt – which brought everything together and gave the spirit a lovely minerality, pulling so much from the other components.”
On the nose, Outwalker has aromas of butterscotch, apricot and cinnamon. The new spirit has a complex, fruity, and assertive taste with a toffee sweetness and notes of mango and hints of pineapple, and a lingering finish with the characteristic Irish whiskey maltiness and spice.
Notable on the captivating bottle is a nod to Ireland’s mythical past in the headless figure of the dullahan – a wandering spirit gathering and sharing stories.
Outwalker co-founder Adrian McLaughlin said: “Joining forces with Sean, Jillian and Darren, we know we have created something really special for cocktail fans and whiskey connoisseurs alike.
“We are confident, like our spirit, that this will be one of the most talked-about Irish whiskeys for many years to come.”
Fellow co-founder Darren Cave added: “Outwalker is by nature, adventurous and open. It will be savoured by many, enjoying the quality of the blend and sharing a good time – in the great Irish tradition.”
A 70cl 44.5% ABV bottle of the new Outwalker is available from £40/€50 RRP and stockists can be found at www.outwalkerwhiskey.com/find
Further information available here: www.outwalkerwhiskey.com
Lookers spearheads fresh investment in Volvo with £2.3m in Chelmsford
Lookers further strengthens Volvo partnership after recent acquisition of Waterhouse Volvo Chelmsford
Lookers has kicked off a £2.3 million investment programme to dramatically enhance its established franchised Volvo dealership in Chelmsford, Essex, as part of a newly-strengthened partnership with Volvo.
Lookers, one of the UK’s leading automotive retail and service groups, said today that the extensive programme works at Baynes Place in the city would create a bright, modern state-of-the-art facility that would put customers at the heart of an exciting and innovative retail experience that would perfectly showcase the dynamic Swedish brand’s growing portfolio of all-electric vehicles.
Featuring the latest suite of stunning new Volvo models including the pure electric XC40 and plug-in hybrids, as well as Volvo Selekt Approved Used vehicles, servicing, MOT tests and repairs, the new-look showroom will feature Volvo’s signature lounge area, complete with Scandinavian furniture, free Wi-Fi and Swedish cakes and coffee.
Work at the site, which will remain open throughout, is expected to complete by the end of the year.
Designed for a sustainable future and incorporating a wide range of eco-friendly features, including a suite of EV charges, solar panels and a signature lounge featuring striking Scandinavian furniture, the new dealership will prioritise the exacting needs of future-focused drivers of this premium brand.
Lookers announced in May that it had acquired Waterhouse Chelmsford Volvo, adding 40 staff to its expanding Volvo teams with plans for a multimillion-pound refurbishment at the site. The acquisition of Waterhouse Chelmsford Volvo brought Lookers’ Volvo portfolio to five UK sites, alongside Colchester, Stockport and Glasgow in addition to Polestar Spaces and aftersales businesses in Manchester and Glasgow.
Lookers’ Franchise Director, David Cooper, said:
“We’re extremely proud of our longstanding and successful partnership with Volvo and to be further investing in this iconic brand, in our customers and dedicated local teams as part of our commitment to create an outstanding retail experience that exceeds expectations. This significant investment also represents a big vote of confidence and commitment to Chelmsford where we are delighted to mark a fresh milestone of local success.”
Founded in 1927 and now one of the world’s most respected car brands, Volvo said earlier this year that it was rapidly transforming its entire product offer to focus on all-electric cars amid plans to expand its range with the introduction of a new compact electric model, the EX30, and the new-to-order flagship EX90, reflecting evolving customer needs.
Volvo’s ambition is to be a fully electric car maker by 2030 in its commitment to an ongoing reduction of its carbon footprint, with the ambition to be a climate-neutral company by 2040.
Duncan McPhee, Lookers’ Chief Operating Officer, said:
“Our growing partnership with Volvo and our shared plans for growth in the fast-expanding EV market are a priority for Lookers and this latest investment once again confirms our ambitions to be the UK’s number one choice for all-electric driving, advice and aftersales service. Volvo is a world industry leader in the production of pioneering plug-in vehicles, and we look forward to continuing our electrifying expansion over the months and years ahead.”
Lookers is one of the largest multi-franchise dealer groups in the UK and Ireland, representing 33 volume and premium car manufacturers across a network of over 150 franchised locations, and has a team of more than 6,500 staff.
Belfast lands ‘world’s best conference destination’ for a third consecutive year
Belfast now recognised as the world’s best conference and events destination at the annual C&IT Awards gala for five out of the last six years
Belfast has been officially named the world’s best conference destination for a third year at the Conference & Incentive Travel (C&IT) awards in London, securing a record-breaking position that underlines the city’s strengths as a major international draw for business delegates and event organisers.
ICC Belfast, Northern Ireland’s only purpose-built international convention centre, was also a winner in the ‘Best Venue - UK’ category, the shortlist for which featured London’s ExCel and ICC Birmingham.
The annual C&IT Awards are the biggest, most influential and prestigious awards in the Meetings, Incentive, Conference and Events (MICE) sector worldwide. Chosen by a diverse panel of industry experts, they recognise outstanding achievements, innovation and success across a variety of categories.‘Best Destination’ and ‘Best Venue’ are among the most sought after and competitive awards, receiving entries from destinations and convention centres across the globe.
This year’s Best Conference Destination 2023 award recognises Visit Belfast and the city’s tourism industry for its consistent, collaborative efforts to meet and exceed the expectations of conference and event organisers to deliver a world class experience for thousands of delegates every year.
Visit Belfast is the official destination marketing and management organisation for the Belfast City Region, dedicated to promoting Belfast as a tourist destination for business, leisure and cruise visitors. Tourism NI, Invest NI and Belfast City Council are also key supporters and funders of business tourism in Belfast and Northern Ireland.
For ICC Belfast, its newest award win for ‘Best Venue - UK’ recognises its contribution to the city’s thriving business conference sector as well as how the team has successfully delivered on its values as a venue that celebrates diversity and champions inclusivity.
In a separate development, Visit Belfast were also awarded ‘UK Best Destination Team of the Year’ at the Meetings Industry Association (MIA) Awards 2023, securing the top industry title in a highly competitive shortlist that included Conference Leeds, Meet in Wales, NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau and Meet Devon South West England.
Welcoming Belfast’s three major international wins, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Ryan Murphy, said:
“These award wins represent a record-breaking outcome for the city, for Visit Belfast and ICC Belfast which champions the huge, collaborative effort that goes into making Belfast a tourism leader on the global stage. Yet again, Team Belfast has proven its award-winning abilities to go up against the rest of the world and go straight to the top and I’m delighted and grateful to everyone who contributed to this remarkable success.
“Despite the challenges of recent years, Belfast continues to punch well above its weight in a highly competitive market, demonstrating its strengths, a team spirt and a prized warm welcome that makes more and more people want to come back. I am very proud of what we have achieved and congratulations to everyone involved.”
Earlier this year, Visit Belfast revealed its plans are on track to deliver around £120m to the local economy this year through its sales, marketing and visitor servicing activity, marking a fresh growth milestone in the organisation’s almost 25-year history and looking ahead, Belfast is set to welcome 147 conferences and 55,000 delegates, over the next three years, amounting to a spend of around £75 million.
Julia Corkey, Chief Executive of ICC Belfast | Waterfront Hall | Ulster Hall, said:
“The passion and dedication of our world-class team are what made this award win possible. The timing could not have been better, as just last week we proudly played our part in facilitating global collaboration when we showcased the very best that Northern Ireland had to offer delegates attending the One Young World 2023 Summit.
Our commitment to sustainable growth and innovation across the organisation means that we continually strive to exceed clients’ expectations. The business events industry is highly competitive, so for our efforts to be recognised as industry leading is an incredible achievement. We are delighted to celebrate with all of our partners throughout the city and extend our sincere congratulations to Visit Belfast on their deserved recognition as Best Conference Destination."
Acknowledging the importance of both awards for Belfast’s tourism economy, Visit Belfast’s Director of Business Development, Sustainability and Transformation, Rachael McGuickin, said investing in business tourism sales and marketing is critical as it provides mid-week business right throughout the year.
“Generating around £40 million of direct expenditure for the local economy, business events are a major part of the city’s tourism economy, delivering high-spending visitors for local venues, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport providers and across events supply chain. They’re a catalyst for growth and integral to the investment supported and generated in Belfast and beyond while also contributing to the city and Northern Ireland’s growing reputation for innovation, academic and business success.
Our most recent award success, both as a destination and as a team, is important in ensuring Belfast is always front of mind as a leading destination for national and international events and we look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners in building on our achievements and adding even more new and sustainable ways to ensure our city not only appeals but inspires.”
A New Integrated Strategy for Business Events in Northern Ireland was launched in March last year which seeks to double the number of international conferences hosted annually and attract three times the number of delegates from the UK and Ireland by 2030.
Nikki Paterson, Business Solutions Manager, Northern Ireland, said:
“Recognition of our unique and competitive strengths in attracting business events and delegates to Belfast and Northern Ireland play an important role in promoting our exciting offer across the world, driving awareness and impact in a highly competitive marketplace. We look forward to continuing to work with all our partners to ensure that we can continue to drive the direct economic impact of this pivotal tourism sector.”
JN Wine named ‘best wine retailer in Northern Ireland’ by global wine brand Decanter
JN Wine’s retail outlets in Crossgar and London win top billing at prestigious Decanter Retailer Awards 2023
Leading wine retailer JN Wine is raising a special toast to new sparkling success after clinching two top awards at the UK wine industry’s annual retail excellence awards organised by global wine brand Decanter.
JN Wine, one of the best-known independent wine merchants, supplies many of the top hotels, restaurants and wine shops throughout the island of Ireland.
The 46 year-old business which employs more than 40 staff and has outlets in Crossgar in County Down and in Highbury, London, was this year acknowledged as best regional wine retailer in Northern Ireland – as well as in the UK capital – at the Decanter Retailer Awards 2023, securing top gongs in a shortlist containing some of the UK’s best-known retail wine specialists.
Awarding its Crossgar wine retail outlet number one in Northern Ireland, judges noted JN Wine’s ‘excellent service, wide range of wines along with an efficient operation that made it a worthy winner’.
The company’s London outlet, Highbury Vintners, picked up the award for Best Regional Wine Shop in London, with one judge saying: “Highbury Vintners is exactly what you want from your neighbourhood wine merchant, offering a great range with a very proactive, educated staff – what every high street should have.”
The Highbury store was also named runner up in the Decanter Awards ‘Spain Specialist Retailer of the Year’ category.
Founded in 1975 and based in London, Decanter is the world's leading wine media brand and is the oldest and most prestigious consumer wine publication in the UK.
From the best neighbourhood wine shops to national retailers, in-store and online, the awards offer wine drinkers an indispensable guide to outstanding retail experiences across the nation.
The two top Decanter award wins come hot on the heels of JN Wine’s 29th consecutive win at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) in May which saw the Co Down team pick up the title of Regional Retailer of the Year for Northern Ireland 2023. Highbury Vintners was also named Best Regional Retailer in London.
Founder James Nicholson said: “We’re over the moon with our recent award successes. They reflect the strength of the team and our consistent dedication to delivering expertise, excellent service and a wide and expanding range of carefully selected, quality wines to our customers.
“Each and every member of the team plays a key role in our collective success and I’d like to thank them for embracing our ethos of constant improvement in delivering for our growing base of loyal customers at home and in businesses across the UK and Ireland.”
JN Wine, which was founded in 1977, specialises in quality wines sourced from family and artisan wineries around the world, and remains committed to a long-standing focus on sourcing sustainable and organically certified wines.
As well as supplying restaurants and hotels across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the UK, JN Wine also provides a home delivery service for wine lovers through its website.
Lookers starts work on new £6m multi-franchise Car HUB in Middlesbrough
Lookers charges ahead with Northeast investment, growth and additional jobs in new car retail and servicing concept
Lookers is on course to open ‘Lookers Car HUB’, a new multimillion-pound investment which specialises in multi-franchise sales, service, maintenance and cosmetic repair, with expansive EV charging facilities and an on-site ‘education and experience centre’ to support growing consumer demand and enquiries for all-electric driving options.
This new state-of-the-art facility will be based in Middlesbrough and will open later this year after getting the planning go-ahead from Middlesbrough Council. Lookers is investing around £6 million to create the future-focused, landmark dealership for the city and region.
The expansive 25,500 square-metre site, which is located off Cargo Fleet Lane and South Bank Road, will also accommodate a standalone Ford dealership which will be located adjacent to the new, fully-branded Lookers’ Car “HUB”.
A separate standalone dealership is also being constructed on site to accommodate an additional dealership which will be integral to the new site.
Last year, Lookers was the first dealership in England to be authorised to retail the new ORA EV brand by Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motors, becoming the first franchisee for the fast-growing international. It also recently a major strategic partnership with MG Motor UK to drive EV sales in Brighton and Worcester.
Lookers’ Chief Operating Officer Duncan McPhee, said:
“Committed to growth, value and excellence in every part of our business, we’re delighted to spearhead major change, innovation and investment in the Northeast where we plan to roll out an exciting, new multi-franchise dealership that meets the buying and servicing needs of every customer and which priorities EV driving for a new generation.
Our new Lookers Car HUB also represents our confidence in Middlesbrough and the wider area, in our staff and in the local communities which we serve.”
Lookers has been rapidly expanding its footprint in EV sales while driving strategic new investment in its nationwide network of dealerships as part of its commitment to be the UK’s number one choice for EV sales and servicing. Last year, it invested £3 million in a major redevelopment of its nearby Volkswagen Teesside franchise, transforming the site.
Additional jobs will be created at the new car retail HUB in Middlesbrough, bringing Lookers’ staff numbers in the area up to around 200.
“Our all-new Car HUB delivers unrivalled choice and value in the provision of used cars, first class servicing and cosmetic repair and with a focus on helping even more customers join us on the journey towards a more sustainable, all-electric driving future,” Duncan McPhee said.
“At Lookers, we’re committed to providing everyone with the information, advice and support that they need to make the right choice for them.”
Lookers has been charging ahead in its bid to be the UK leader in EV driving over the last number of years.
This year, it partnered with clean energy brand Egg to provide and install electric vehicle charging infrastructure across its dealership network. Egg will be Lookers’ exclusive supplier of EV charging equipment and services, including installation, service and maintenance on a variety of chargers through from fast 7 kWh AC units to rapid 150 kWh DC chargers.
Lookers has also partnered with electric vehicle and home charging comparison service Rightcharge. It also announced an innovative tie-up with EV charging locator and mapping specialist Zap-Map, helping more customers find the locations of thousands of electric charging points nearest to them.
In 2021, it joined forces with racing driver, broadcaster and journalist Amanda Stretton who completed a 1,500-mile EV sprint from Kent to Glasgow to highlight the difference that plug-in driving can make in reducing emissions and advancing sustainability in the run up to COP26. View here: Lookers Electric Journey - YouTube
Founded in Manchester in 1908, Lookers, one of the UK’s leading automotive and aftersales service groups, represents more than 30 leading car manufacturers in over 150 dealerships, employing 6,500 people across the UK and Ireland.
For more information, see www.lookers.co.uk.
eir evo delivers state-of-the-art Wireless Network for all Ulster University campuses in groundbreaking £6m investment
33,000 Ulster University students and staff across four campuses are now benefiting from state-of-the-art HPE Aruba Network technology
Ulster University now ranked 6th in the UK among all universities for best WiFi and internet services
Embargoed until Tuesday 3 October 00:01: Ulster University has successfully completed a major £6 million digital infrastructure upgrade across all four Northern Ireland campuses thanks to its partnership with leading local telecoms and IT provider eir evo UK, fast-tracking its reputation as one of the best universities in the UK for WiFi and internet services.
Recently named among the top 30 UK universities in The Guardian University Guide, Ulster University enjoys a strong and growing national and international reputation for excellence, innovation and regional engagement and for its significant contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of the region.
With digital services in education now essential in every area, Ulster University’s investment, and its partnership with eir evo UK, has helped to break its way into StudentCrowd’s Top 20 league of universities for best wireless networks and internet for the first time in 2023 at number six – well ahead of Aberdeen, St Andrews, Portsmouth, Glasgow, Leeds, Bristol, Warwick and Dundee. The StudentCrowd UK University Awards league tables are based entirely on thousands of verified ac.uk student reviews.
Around 33,000 staff and students across campuses in Belfast, Coleraine, Derry~Londonderry and Jordanstown Sports Village will now feel the benefits of ubiquitous superfast wireless connectivity including secure high-speed access anywhere to their education roaming network and supporting digital services including cybersecurity and media studies.
Underpinning all of this is a new multi-million-pound, future-proofed, secure, multi-gigabit HPE Aruba wired and wireless network infrastructure, delivered and supported in partnership with the University by leading ICT provider eir evo.
Part of several major contracts over the past few years that have led to a total transformation of the University’s digital infrastructure, the state-of-the-art powerful network delivered by eir evo was completed in the new Belfast campus in time for the official opening last September.
Incorporating every square metre of the new 75,000m2 campus, the HPE Aruba 100Gb wired and multi-gigabit wireless network means thousands of staff, students and guests can easily gain secure and reliable access to multi-gigabit internet speeds, helping to deliver a new era of digital teaching, learning and innovation.
Designed to support its growing needs for the next decade, the technology sets a new gold standard in digital services, underpinning Ulster University’s multi-gigabit wireless communications for today and tomorrow.
“Delivering on our commitment to bring world class teaching, to transform lives, open minds and develop the skills needed for a growing local economy, this groundbreaking digital investment is crucial to the University’s success, enabling a new level of interconnectivity across all our campuses in delivering ubiquitous and secure internet access right across our estate,” Terence Nicholl, Head of Infrastructure and Operations, Ulster University, said.
I’m delighted that our partnership with eir evo marks an exciting new milestone in providing the digital infrastructure we need to succeed across every area in an increasingly digital, modern and competitive learning environment.”
Since 2007, eir evo UK has been providing local businesses with the widest range of managed services including voice and data networking solutions, and more recently with IT, cyber security and cloud technology.
“Our contract with Ulster University delivers the most reliable and secure wireless network available, benefiting thousands of people every day and we’re proud to be a trusted partner to deliver its needs, providing instant, seamless connectivity for users across all its campuses,” Matt McCloskey, Sales and Marketing Director, eir evo UK, said.
eir evo was awarded Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Partner of the Year 2022 for its high level of technical expertise in innovative solutions from the HPE portfolio including cloud services, infrastructure, security and networking. It was also named Microsoft Ireland Partner of the Year 2022 in recognition of its customer-first commitment to help organisations get the most out of their technology.
eir evo has recently invested more than £10 million upgrading its regional carrier fibre network across Northern Ireland, this brings the total investment in our core fibre network to over £28 million in the past 15 years. With brand new modern offices on Great Victoria Street, eir evo has expanded its customer-facing team based in Belfast to support its continued growth.
eir evo is the largest provider to offer true end-to-end service delivery and technical innovation to the highest-level on the island of Ireland.
For more information, please visit www.eirevo.co.uk
Ardmore has been named People’s Choice UK Independent Agency of the Year at the Creativepool Annual 10th Year Anniversary Awards
Creative advertising and marketing agency Ardmore has topped the poll in this year’s Creativepool Awards 2023, securing a sought-after first-place position as the People’s Choice UK Independent Agency of the Year.
As one of the world’s most renowned branding and advertising annual awards, the Creativepool Awards celebrate the creative industry’s best achievements.
Based near Belfast in Northern Ireland, Ardmore is one of the UK and Ireland’s top, multi-award-winning creative agencies, driving results for its clients through strategic advertising, media, social and digital marketing and design.
Held in London’s prestigious St John’s Smith Square, Ardmore received the coveted Creativepool award after a record vote that places it among the best agencies in the world.
Ardmore Executive Creative Director Paul Bowen, said:
“In a competitive, rapidly changing industry where creativity, ideas and results still matter most, I’m thrilled that our thinking, our approach and the results we deliver for our clients have been so roundly recognised and celebrated at this year’s Creativepool Awards,”
With a 70-strong team, the Ardmore Group of companies is a recognised industry leader and represents private and public sector organisations and brands including Belfast City Council, Brand USA, Dale Farm, Department for Infrastructure, Department of Justice, Destination British Columbia, GR8 Fires, eir evo, Lidl, MCS Group, The Northern Ireland Executive Office, Network Rail, Phoenix Energy, Progressive Building Society, Rushmere, Starplan Furniture, Stena Line and Translink.
“Winning this award is an official testament to the huge talent and hard work of our team and to our longstanding commitment to always innovate, inspire and lead award-winning campaigns that drive impact, action and which yield outstanding results,” Deputy Managing Director Miriam Moertl, added.
Ardmore has achieved a surplus of awards in recent years, including gold at the 2023 Drum Roses awards and bronze at the National Media Awards for its work with the Northern Ireland Department of Justice. Ardmore was placed in The top 30 UK creative regional agencies for 2022 by Campaign magazine.
More recently, the agency has been named a finalist in the 2023 CIM Global Marketing Excellence Awards as Best Employer Brand Campaign for its work with Stena Line and a finalist in the 2023 National Transport Awards for Campaign of the Year for its work with Translink.
Ardmore is a longstanding partner and shareholder in Worldwide Partners Inc (WPI), a global network of 83 independent agencies in 44 countries, who collaborate and work together as one to harness their creativity, local expertise and diversified capabilities to deliver meaningful campaigns for a range of international brands.
Belfast’s hotels go green in major sustainability shift
Record 75 percent of Belfast’s hotel bedrooms now meet sustainability standards with Green Tourism accreditation
Following a groundbreaking partnership led by Visit Belfast, Belfast City Council and Green Tourism in 2021, hoteliers across Belfast are ramping up their green credentials at a record rate. Seventy five percent of the city region’s 4,800 hotel rooms are now officially accredited by Green Tourism, the global body which promotes sustainable and environmental standards across the sector.
More than 20 leading hotels, groups and brands, including Hastings Hotels, The Merchant Hotel, Bullitt Hotel, Andras House Hotel Group, Titanic Hotel Belfast, AC Hotel Belfast, Clayton Hotel, The Maldron Belfast City Centre, The Fitzwilliam Hotel, Hilton Belfast, the Leonardo Hotel, Malmaison Hotel, The Harrison, Radisson Blu and Ramada by Wyndham have all secured a Green Tourism award in a drive to support Belfast’s sustainable tourism mission.
The Green Tourism Standard – one of the largest and most established sustainable certification programmes in the world – recognises an organisation that works responsibly, ethically and sustainably, contributes to their community, is reducing their impact on the environment and aims to be accessible and inclusive to all visitors and staff.
Now, 75 percent, or around 3,570 of all Belfast hotel bedrooms, are sustainability certified.
To mark the milestone achievement, Visit Belfast, the city’s dedicated destination marketing and management organisation, in partnership with Green Tourism and the Global Destination Management Movement (GDSM), has launched a sustainability whitepaper, acting as a blueprint to support the entire tourism industry’s efforts to tackle the climate change challenge, drive sustainability and embrace net zero.
Belfast has already made great strides in embracing sustainability and transiting to a zero carbon and circular tourism and hospitality sector. In 2022, it was ranked the Top 10 Most Sustainable Destinations in the World in the annual GDS Index - a world-leading sustainability benchmarking and performance improvement programme for destinations and their visitor economies. Climbing eleven places since 2021 to take the eighth spot, places Belfast as the most sustainable destination in the Island of Ireland.
Belfast City Council declared a climate change emergency in October 2019 and unveiled the city’s first Climate Plan in 2020 with Visit Belfast leading out on the ‘sustainable tourism’ transformation programme.
Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, Chair of Belfast City Council’s Climate and City Resilience Committee, said:
“We know there’s significant work ahead for us as a city to become truly sustainable but being rated in the Top 10 Global Destinations Sustainability Index is very encouraging - and that’s thanks to the efforts of Visit Belfast and our city’s tourism meetings industry.
“We’re serious about making sustainable changes. The Net Zero Carbon Roadmap was developed by the Belfast Climate Commission and the council adopted those carbon targets in 2022. A Local Area Energy Plan is now being developed, and The Belfast Agenda, currently out for consultation, also sets out a bold plan to tackle climate change. Collective design, delivery and partnership is the way forward.”
Launching the white paper, Sustainable tourism for cities and stakeholders, and the Belfast model for success, which is co-authored by Green Tourism, Visit Belfast and the GDS Movement, Scott Maclean, Green Tourism’s managing director said:
“We see this white paper as a pathway for others to instigate changes and improvements that put sustainability at the heart of their tourism sector and hope it can be seen as a blueprint for excellence for all forward-thinking destinations. Green Tourism is enormously proud to have played a part in Belfast’s transition alongside all our partners and, of course, all the newly accredited Green Tourism member businesses.”
Celebrating the hotel sector’s performance and the launch of the whitepaper, Rachael McGuickin, Director of Business Development, Sustainability and Transformation at Visit Belfast, said:
“The commitment of Belfast’s tourism and hospitality sector to support our ambitious sustainability journey is nothing short of remarkable. With our valued partners on board, we are not only improving our ability to compete globally for visitors and events, but we are also enabling Belfast to become a more sustainable place to visit, meet and live in.”
For more information on Green Tourism and to view the whitepaper sustainable tourism for cities and stakeholders, and the Belfast model for success, please visit: https://www.green-tourism.com/destinations.
Lookers unveils £1.8 million transformation at Kia Chester
The new, state-of-the-art dealership is now open to the public
One of the UK’s leading automotive retail and service groups, Lookers, has relaunched its Kia dealership in Chester following a major £1.8 million transformation of the site.
The redevelopment, which got under way in March, encompassed a full internal refit as well as the introduction of a new indoor handover bay and exterior integrated valet bay.
Built to exacting and sustainable specifications and packed with modern designs and digital innovations, the Sealand Road site represents a powerful showcase of Kia’s expanding range of electric and hybrid models and will also incorporate a wide selection of quality used cars.
Incorporating the latest Kia brand concept, the transformed site reflects Lookers’ commitment to sustainability and quality customer service, with four new rapid electric vehicle charge points, as well as a stylish and comfortable customer zone, a service reception and seven-car capacity showroom.
Scott Innes, General Manager at Lookers Kia Chester, said:
“We’re incredibly excited to be able to share our state-of-the-art facility with Lookers’ customers, which gives us the perfect platform to showcase Kia’s award-winning range of vehicles in world-class surroundings.
“Our initial events have been a huge success and proved that all the hard work was worth it. We’d like to thank all our staff and customers for their patience during the refurbishment period, and we’re confident that we can all agree this fantastic transformation has been worth the wait.
“Such a significant investment from Lookers in this upgrade at our Chester dealership reflects our ongoing commitment to working with Kia, with whom we have a long-standing and successful relationship. We look forward to sharing this exciting retail experience with our customers.”
The dramatically improved dealership was relaunched with a family fun weekend in September, followed by a launch event for the new fully electric SUV Kia EV9, which will be available at the Chester site. Over 200 customers took the opportunity to visit the site, and more are welcome to witness the transformation for themselves.
Duncan McPhee, Chief Operating Officer at Lookers said:
“Kia is an important partner for Lookers which is why we absolutely delighted to relaunch our Sealand Road site so that we can perfectly showcase what this outstanding brand has to offer.”
Kia is one of the UK’s Top 10 best-selling car brands, with a record-breaking 100,000 sales recorded in 2022, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Electrification has been key to Kia brand’s success, with the brand reaching the 50,000 EV sales milestone in July 2023.
The new Kia EV9 is set to be the flagship for the company’s electric line-up. The top-spec version of the large SUV comes with a 99.6kWh battery and can do up to 336 miles on a full charge. On sale now, deliveries will begin in the first half of 2024.
Founded in Manchester in 1908, Lookers represents more than 30 leading car manufacturers in more than 150 dealerships, employing 6,500 people across the UK and Ireland.
Lookers and MG Motor UK agree strategic partnership to drive new EV growth
Lookers to acquire Brighton MG dealership and launch the fast-growing car brand in Worcester in latest investment
Lookers Group has agreed a major partnership with one of the UK’s fastest-growing car brands, MG, bringing the iconic British heritage marque to two new sites in England as part of its accelerated growth strategy.
In its newest dealership expansion, Lookers Group, one of the UK’s leading automotive and service groups, announced it has agreed terms to acquire independent dealership Brighton MG for an undisclosed sum. It also confirmed that it would launch the MG car brand in Worcester early in 2024.
Brighton MG is located in Southwick on Old Shoreham Road in West Sussex and combines high-quality service and experience. All 14 staff at the site will transfer to Lookers.
Lookers said the new partnership with MG Motor UK – a first for the company – would help drive new EV sales growth with one of Britain’s best-loved and fastest-selling brands.
Duncan McPhee, Lookers’ Chief Operating Officer, said:
“With 100 years of experience, MG has proven its mettle and global success through outstanding innovation, technology and design and is now leading the way for a new era of all-electric driving with an exciting and growing suite of award-winning vehicles.
At Lookers, we are committed to being the UK’s number one choice for EV sales, advice and aftercare support and we’re delighted to represent MG in Brighton and Worcester.”
Guy Pigounakis, Commercial Director, MG Motor UK, said:
“We are delighted to partner with Lookers in two strategic locations. We are certain that Lookers’ professionalism matched with our fantastic product range will be a great success. There are some exciting product launches ahead for the MG brand so Lookers join us at just the right time.”