Howard Hastings, Managing Director, Hastings Hotels makes his predictions for travel in 2022.

Hastings Hotel Group is the largest independent hotel operator in Northern Ireland with six luxury hotels, including the Grand Central and Europa Hotels in Belfast and the five-star Culloden Estate and Spa just outside the city. It also co-owns the five-star Merrion in Dublin.

“Last year we enjoyed an excellent staycation boom from the Republic of Ireland. Whilst this may be more muted as Covid restrictions lift, many visitors enjoyed the experience meaning Belfast and Northern Ireland will continue to be There is much pent-up demand from the US. We expect to see a strong rebound in 2022 from North American and Canadian visitors as the direct flights cancelled during the pandemic are being reinstated. Dublin to San Francisco has now resumed – and new ones have been added, with Dublin to Vancouver direct starting in June.on the Republic of Ireland consideration set for weekend breaks in 2022,” said Howard Hastings, managing director, Hastings Hotels.

Travel from Great Britain will be boosted in 2022, both due to the post-pandemic sustained marketing for Northern Ireland in Great Britain and the reduction in air passenger duty from April, making it cheaper to arrive here by air.

There is much pent-up demand from the US. We expect to see a strong rebound in 2022 from North American and Canadian visitors as the direct flights cancelled during the pandemic are being reinstated. Dublin to San Francisco has now resumed and new ones have been added, with Dublin to Vancouver direct starting in June.

Pictured: Culloden Estate & Spa (hastingshotels.com)

“It is also anticipated that 2022 will be a record year for the number of passengers on cruise liners coming to Belfast, so we look forward to welcoming many of these in the near future.” – Howard Hastings.

About Hastings Hotels:
Founded in 1966, Hastings Hotels is Northern Ireland’s leading collection of hotels. The group has six luxurious hotels – the 5-star Culloden Estate & Spa, the world-famous Europa Hotel, the contemporary Stormont Hotel and Northern Ireland’s largest hotel, the Grand Central. Outside of Belfast there is the luxurious Everglades Hotel in Derry-Londonderry and the 17th-century Ballygally Castle.