Business

Galgorm expands accommodation offer in new £10m investment

Galgorm Collection managing director Colin Johnston and Economy Minister Gordon Lyons welcome the £10 million investment at the Galgorm resort and spa. Picture: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye
Galgorm Collection managing director Colin Johnston and Economy Minister Gordon Lyons welcome the £10 million investment at the Galgorm resort and spa. Picture: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye Galgorm Collection managing director Colin Johnston and Economy Minister Gordon Lyons welcome the £10 million investment at the Galgorm resort and spa. Picture: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye

THE Galgorm has revealed plans to create a suite of new accommodation and thermal spa options at its 380-acre Co Antrim estate as part of a £10 million investment which will add 50 new hospitality jobs over the next two years.

The investment is the first phase of a £30m project to further expand and enhance facilities by 2027 and is the latest move by owners Galgorm Collection (www.galgorm.com) to maintain the resort’s position as a world-class international tourism destination.

And Galgorm Collection - which has already invested £60 million since 2010 - has also committed to the roll-out of an enhanced benefits package for team members, including a £1 million investment into premium private health care cover over the next five years.

Galgorm Collection managing director Colin Johnston said: “Over many years we've invested heavily to establish Galgorm as an award-winning international and world-class tourism destination.

“This latest £10m project will see up to 50 additional accommodation units added over the next two years, which will increase our workforce and expand the estate’s footprint.”

New for 2021 is the addition of a range of bespoke one-bed Shepherd’s Huts. Representing an investment of £2.5m, the area is earmarked for further expansion, housing up to 18 huts by summer 2022.

Work will commence on a £2.5 million project to add 23 new high-specification one-bed cottages, and plans are also in place to add five magical treetop hideaways set amidst the forest grounds, with the first opening next year in a £1.5 million investment.

The Thermal Spa Village will further expand by two acres in a £2.5 million project while £100,000 has been invested in a brand new Spa Suite, and the Linen Merchants is the latest addition to the resort, offering accommodation for up to 10 guests.

The announcement was welcomed by Economy Minister Gordon Lyons, who said: “I’m delighted to see Galgorm Collection forging ahead with new opportunities to expand its offering and cement Northern Ireland’s position as a fantastic place to visit.”

Tourism NI chief executive John McGrillen said: “This announcement is another positive sign for the tourism and hospitality industry and points to future growth and recovery of the sector as a whole.

“It will connect guests and visitors with Northern Ireland’s great outdoors, showcase our natural landscape and focus on building and maintaining environmentally friendly accommodation that will support the sustainable tourism economy of the future.”