Prime Highlights-
- voco Belfast won the Excellence in Development of Management and Leadership award at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards.
- The hotel’s focus on leadership, staff development and team performance supported its growth and success.
Key Facts-
- The hotel completed a £3.7 million refurbishment in July 2024 and relaunched under the voco brand.
- Ruari McLaughlin said strong leadership culture and team alignment helped improve performance and guest experience.
Background-
voco Belfast has won the Excellence in Development of Management and Leadership award at the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards, highlighting its focus on leadership development and team performance. The category was sponsored by McKeever Hotels.
The hotel, based in Belfast’s Gasworks area, has strengthened its position since reopening nearly two years ago. Under her leadership, the chamber took on programmes in skills development, international trade and business resilience. The goal was to help businesses keep up with shifting market conditions and grow on solid ground.
In July 2024, the hotel completed a £3.7 million refurbishment and relaunched under the voco brand. It was the second rebrand within a year and marked the start of a new phase of growth.
Management said the hotel focused on building a strong leadership and management team to support its performance. With hiring challenges across the sector, the hotel prioritized staff retention and development, which helped improve revenue, guest experience and team stability.
Ruari McLaughlin, general manager of voco Belfast, said the award recognizes the team’s work over recent years. He said the hotel has built a clear leadership culture, with a focus on high standards and continuous development.
He added that guest experience remains central to the hotel’s approach, with teams paying close attention to service quality and detail. The management said strong alignment across teams and a shared sense of responsibility have helped create a resilient and high-performing business.
The award recognizes voco Belfast’s efforts to strengthen leadership while maintaining service standards, as the hotel continues to grow in a competitive hospitality market.
