'We expect strong interest from investor groups': Northern Ireland 5-star hotel put up for sale with price tag of more than £32million

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast has been put up for sale with a guide price of more than £32 million, in what has been described as a rare opportunity to acquire one of Northern Ireland’s leading luxury hotels.

CBRE Hotels has been appointed to handle the sale of the freehold property, which has operated on Great Victoria Street since opening in 2009.

The five-star hotel occupies a prominent corner site in the heart of Belfast and comprises 146 bedrooms and suites, including a two-bedroom private suite and luxury penthouse, both extending to more than 121 sq m (1,300 sq ft).

The hotel also features an award-winning bar and restaurant and is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. It was named AA Hotel of the Year for Northern Ireland for 2019-2020.

The property is owner-operated and is being offered without a management agreement, giving a new owner flexibility to continue operating under The Fitzwilliam name, subject to licence, or rebrand the hotel.

A major expansion of the hotel was granted planning permission in June 2026, providing scope for the addition of 52 bedrooms and suites, as well as a conference centre, gym and luxury spa featuring a swimming pool and eight treatment rooms.

The planned expansion would take the hotel to a substantially larger scale at a time when luxury hotel supply in Belfast remains constrained.

The Fitzwilliam is also located immediately beside the recently opened Belfast Grand Central Station, while the Grand Opera House, Donegall Square, Linen Quarter and Cathedral Quarter are all within close proximity.

The hotel is one of just five five-star hotels in Northern Ireland registered with Tourism Northern Ireland, according to CBRE.

The sale comes amid continued growth in Northern Ireland's tourism sector. Figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency show the region attracted around 5.1 million overnight visitors and £1.2 billion in overnight visitor spend during 2025, with overnight spend increasing by 9 per cent year-on-year.

Paul Collins, executive director and Head of Hotels, Ireland at CBRE, said: “Belfast’s hospitality market has strengthened considerably over recent years, supported by rising visitor numbers and greater corporate activity. The Fitzwilliam is well placed to benefit from this positive momentum, and its consented expansion plans give a new owner a clear path to add scale in a supply-constrained market.

"The Fitzwilliam is one of Belfast’s best-located hotels, next to the Grand Opera House and a short walk to Donegall Square and the vibrant Linen and Cathedral Quarters. We expect strong interest from investor groups particularly given the quality of the hotel and being unencumbered.”

Fergal O’Connell, CEO of the Fitzwilliam Hotel Group, added: “Having been involved with The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast since its opening in 2009, we are incredibly proud of what has been achieved over the past seventeen years.

"The hotel has established itself as one of Belfast’s leading luxury hospitality destinations and, with planning permission now secured for a significant expansion, we believe this is the right time for a new owner to build on that success and take the hotel into its next phase of growth. We remain fully committed to our wider hospitality interests, including The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin, where we have recently completed a substantial refurbishment programme and obtained planning permission to extend the hotel, and are excited about the opportunities ahead.”

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Group remains committed to its wider hospitality portfolio, including The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin, where a major refurbishment has recently been completed and planning permission has been secured for an extension.