Hotels
John Doherty
Think you know Belfast? Try this gem of the ...

Belfast Newsletter - Well well well. There is a whole different side to Belfast that I suggest many people have been totally unaware of - to their loss. So you are familiar with city centre shopping, Belfast City Hall, The Cathedral Quarter, the Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens, the Golden Mile, the Victoria Square and environs, Lisburn Road and the Troubles Tours in the west of the city?

But what about the Titanic Quarter as a weekend leisure designation?
Never thought of it? Me Neither.

But that all changed with a stay in the delightful Titanic Hotel.

Think you know Belfast? Try this gem of the Titanic Hotel Belfast on the 'hidden' Maritime Mile
John Doherty
Harcourt Reveals First Phase of €20m Hotel ...

One of Ireland’s largest privately held companies, Harcourt Developments, has unveiled the results of the first phase of a €20 million investment in its hotel portfolio - The Harcourt Collection, at County Donegal’s five-star Lough Eske Castle.

The new additions are named “The Donegal Suites” and showcase furnishings, artworks and amenities sourced and created by local craftspeople and businesses. Overseen by Harcourt Developments Creative Director, John Doherty, interior features include working with world famous local tweed weavers Magee 1866.

Harcourt Reveals First Phase of €20m Hotel Portfolio Investment
People
John Doherty
Angela Conner - A Life in Sculpture

A short film about the amazing artist Angela Conner FRBS who created a series of large kinetic sculptures for Park West Business Park in Dublin including the 40m (129ft) high, 20-tonne 'Wave' - the tallest kinetic sculpture in Europe, which is powered only by the wind. Our chairman Pat Doherty was delighted to be interviewed by the filmmakers Laura Warner and Dreweatts 1759.

Angela Conner - A Life in Sculpture
Attractions
John Doherty
Titanic Belfast wins THEA Award no. 2

Hollywood, Los Angeles - the team at Titanic Belfast were delighted to accept a THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement – Visitor Experience Re-envisioned at the ‘Oscars’ of visitor attractions.

The THEA Awards, organised by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), recognise achievement, talent and personal excellence from those who bring incredible experiences to life for people around the world. This is the first time an attraction has won twice in its 30-year history.

Titanic Belfast wins THEA Award no. 2
John Doherty
‘It’s been a real luxury to put in the hard ...

Belfast City Council - He sums up its work as bringing “step changes” to Northern Ireland, such as the emergence of a new film and TV industry in the 2000s after Harland & Wolff’s old Paint Hall was transformed into Titanic Studios.

It's among the milestones for Titanic Quarter witnessed by James Eyre since he joined Titanic Quarter Ltd, the company behind the massive seafront development, as a surveyor in 2006.

James, who studied estate management at UIster University, was last week named its new chief executive – the first at the company since a restructuring in 2015.

‘It’s been a real luxury to put in the hard work to make Titanic Quarter happen’

Titanic endeavour: Simon Calder previews Belfast’s newest attraction

Titanic endeavour: Simon Calder previews Belfast’s newest attraction

Independent - A century after Titanic set sail from Belfast prior to her tragic maiden journey, a £97m tribute to the ship and her makers is almost ready.

"That's where she was built. That's where she was designed. That's where the workers lived." Noel Molloy is a man with a mission to explain – and entertain. He is project manager for Titanic Belfast, a structure as monumental as the ship it commemorates.

Like a magnificent liner in the final stages of construction, the shell of Northern Ireland's new landmark is complete. Sprouting from a quay overlooking Belfast Lough is an angular, aluminium-clad eruption. Imagine if Ikea made a flatpack ship, and someone had made a right old muddle of the instructions: that's roughly how Titanic Belfast looks.

Titanic project will be a success, says Peter Robinson

Titanic project will be a success, says Peter Robinson

Belfast Telegraph - The multi-million pound Titanic Signature Building in Belfast will become an international attraction, First Minister Peter Robinson says.

He and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness sprung to the defence of the project after a recent Audit Office report cast doubt over its long-term prospects.

The biggest single tourism project launched in Northern Ireland, the building will require an estimated 290,000 visitors a year to break even.

The luck of the Irish... Pat Doherty

The luck of the Irish... Pat Doherty

BBeyond Magazine - Pat Doherty, the man who built Harcourt Developments, is not a high profile tycoon. The unprepossessing Irishman is all about substance rather than style - his younger peers in the property developments business have much to learn from him.

He rarely, if ever, gives interviews because he doesn’t need to...

Belfast's £5bn Titanic Quarter development ‘where the city’s future lies’

Belfast's £5bn Titanic Quarter development ‘where the city’s future lies’

Belfast Telegraph - There could be no stronger endorsement of the £5bn Titanic Quarter development in Belfast than that delivered yesterday by University of Ulster chief economist Mike Smyth when he said “it is the future of Belfast”.

Yesterday banking giant Citibank unveiled its new offices at the development which has transformed the city’s waterfront area. Titanic Quarter can already claim Belfast Metropolitan College, Audi and the Northern Ireland Science Park, and many more businesses are expected to follow despite the tough economic times.

Jersey's Liberty Wharf shopping centre opens

Jersey's Liberty Wharf shopping centre opens

BBC News - After a six month delay Jersey's new shopping centre has opened its doors.

Liberty Wharf is based at the former abattoir site in St Helier and features Marks and Spencer, Pasty Presto and Costa Coffee.

Gerry Comaskey, of the builders Harcourt Developments, said work on the historical site had been a detailed and meticulous process.

Red line investment 'a winner'

Red line investment 'a winner'

Irish Independent - TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has described the decision of developers to pay more than half the cost of a new Luas line as a "win-win" situation.

The 4.6km line will extend the current Red line service by a further five stops to areas including Saggart, Cheeverstown and the Citywest business campus in Dublin.

New York mayor gives his seal of approval

New York mayor gives his seal of approval

Belfast Newsletter - Belfast is waking up to a new economic horizon, the man who leads the "city that never sleeps" declared yesterday.

Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York, one of the major figures attending this week’s US-NI investment conference, revealed how impressed he was with Belfast’s rejuvenation as he helped launch the new Financial Services Centre in the city’s Titanic Quarter.

Companies’ contribution to the arts ‘truly enriches our society’

Companies’ contribution to the arts ‘truly enriches our society’

Irish Examiner - HARCOURT Developments and Heritage Properties were among the winners of the Allianz Business to Arts awards, which were presented in Dublin last night by President Mary McAleese.

The awards, now in their 16th year, honour the contribution of businesses in Ireland to the arts.

President McAleese said last night: “The arts flourish where patronage is strong… At this event we get a clear view of what corporate social responsibility can accomplish when it allies itself to the arts.”

Peace fuels prosperity in NI

Peace fuels prosperity in NI

Irish Independent - The timing of the latest political breakthrough in Northern Ireland could scarcely have been more opportune for the ambitious £5bn Titanic Quarter project in Belfast - Europe's biggest waterfront regeneration project.

Final curtain on Smith Square - sold for £30m

Final curtain on Smith Square - sold for £30m

Daily Telegraph - The new owner of the former Conservative Central Office has spoken of the “buzz” of buying the site of 50 years of Tory election victories, and back stabbings and plots. 

The Daily Telegraph revealed today how Conservative Party has sold its famous former head office in Smith Square, Westminster, for £30.5 million.

The buyer is Irish property company Harcourt Developments, which counts Andrew Parker Bowles, former husband of Camilla, as one of its non-executive directors.

Building on what lies beneath

Building on what lies beneath

Irish Times - Vivienne Roche's sculpture garden in Park West reflects the presence of an ancient burial ground under the modern apartment blocks, writes Aidan Dunne, Art Critic

Park West, a residential, business and industrial development bounded by the M50, the Grand Canal and the main line from Heuston Station, is singularly well served with prominently positioned sculptures.

Relaunch for Titanic shipyard

Relaunch for Titanic shipyard

Daily Telegraph - The derelict shipyard where the Titanic was built is to benefit from a £1 billion plan that will see it transformed into the largest waterfront development in Europe.

The docks, which were once the industrial hub of Belfast, are to be converted into a new maritime quarter with houses, businesses, leisure facilities and tourism developments.

The regeneration of the Titanic Quarter on Queen's Island is being led by the American architect Eric Kuhne, who has been responsible for similar developments all over the world including Darling Harbour in Sydney and Mid Valley Gardens in Kuala Lumpur.

Northern Ireland's largest-ever development will create …

Antigua: The Big Easy

Antigua: The Big Easy

The Times - A luxurious winter break in the Caribbean provided the perfect opportunity for Julie Burchill to indulge her passion for hotels.

Maybe it’s something to do with being one of Mother Nature’s runaways, but I’ve never understood why so many otherwise sensible people have a problem with hotels - more specifically, why people who could afford to stay at gorgeous hotels choose to hire villas instead.

I grew up in a working-class family, yet when we went to the seaside it was to a B&B - never a flat - and when we went to Butlin’s it was full-board, never self-catering. My parents regarded those who chose to do their own cooking on holiday as uptight, penny-pinching freaks, and as in all things they were so right.

New look for Donegal centre

New look for Donegal centre

Irish Independent - LETTERKENNY Shopping Centre, Port Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal has been re-launched after a major upgrade. A new extension has more than doubled the size of the centre to 11,710 sq m from 5,110 sq m retail space.

This includes a brand new 4,182 sq m Tesco and 3,700 sq m Penneys plus new Benetton, Jack & Jones, Paco, Exibit and Sasha fashion outlets.

In addition to the extension, the existing centre was entirely refit in an ultra-modern style and the centre has been re-branded. A land acquisition increased car parking to 750 spaces.

The art of property enjoys awards success

The art of property enjoys awards success

Irish Independent - THE property world was to the fore at this year's Allianz Business2Arts Awards with two of the six awards presented to leading property groups.

Harcourt Developments and the Dublin Docklands Development Authority did the sector proud by figuring prominently among the award winners.

As an integral part of developing Park West Business Park, Harcourt Developments - headed by Pat Doherty - has commissioned sculptures, water features and site specific artworks for both the exterior and the interior landscapes.

Park West campus wins Opus Building of the Year award

Park West campus wins Opus Building of the Year award

Irish Times - Park West business campus on the edge of the M50 in west Dublin has finally got the recognition it deserves. Apart from being one of the great successes of the current property boom, the entire project has won an Opus Building of the Year Award for its architectural achievements. Tim Darmody of Project Architects was commended for his architectural skill and his ability to "raise the standard of speculative office parks above the basic norm."