13 June 2002
NIGEL DODDS OPENS £6.94M LONDONDERRY HOTEL
The £6.94m Tower Hotel, the first to be built within the walled centre of Londonderry since the 19th Century, was officially opened by the Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds, MP MLA, today.
Speaking after the ceremony, the Minister said: "The provision of this 90-bedroom hotel creating 60 valuable full time and part time jobs is very welcome news. This project will effectively complete the regeneration of the walled city by redeveloping one of the last remaining derelict sites.
"The bright new frontage along Butcher Street has had a tremendous environmental impact on a street which has been largely derelict for many years. It also complements the £2m environmental improvement project inside the walls, which my Department, through the Londonderry Development Office has brought forward.
"This was a very adventurous project for Inner City Trust and I commend the foresight, persistence and commitment of the management committee led by its Chief Executive, Paddy Doherty, on bringing this wonderful project in such a unique location. The hotel is a worthy culmination of the Trust’s extensive regeneration programmes carried out in difficult circumstances over some 20 years.
"I congratulate them on their many successful achievements which include the O’Doherty Fort, the Calgach Centre, the Heritage Library and the Magazine Street Youth Hostel."
The Minister pointed out that the new hotel would help accommodate the growing number of visitors to the historic city. This was estimated at more than105,000 with a spend of £18m during the year 2000 - an impressive 30pc increase on the 1995 figure.
He continued: "The new conference facilities at the Tower Hotel will also help to extend the visitor season. Together with new attractions such as the Millennium Forum and other hotel developments, they make the City a serious destination for conferences, a key objective in the City Vision for Londonderry.
"This project is an excellent example of public, private and community sector partnership approach which my Department pursues through the Londonderry Development Office. We have made a significant contribution to the overall funding package together with the Tower Hotel Group, European Investment Bank and the International Fund for Ireland.
"Finally, I would like to welcome the Tower Hotel group to the city. Their early commitment gave the Inner City Trust and the other funders the confidence to proceed with the project."
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