Start a tourist accommodation business

There are a range of organisations who can provide support for tourist accommodation businesses. 

Invest Northern Ireland Tourism Team

The Invest Northern Ireland (NI) Tourism Team can advise you on the commercial aspects of your tourism accommodation development.

Financial assistance may be available to established businesses or to help develop new accommodation businesses.

Invest NI may also offer a wide range of advice and guidance to tourism accommodation businesses including:-

• IT and e-business issues
• training
• design and marketing
• market research information
• energy and water efficiencies

You can contact the Invest NI Tourism Team on Tel 0800 181 4422 or email tourism@investni.com.

Other support organisations

You can also seek support from other organisations such as Tourism NI, your local council and local planning authorities. See legal and licensing help for new tourist accommodation businesses.

Business support networks

Business networks are of paramount importance, they will assist you in growing your business. You can keep up to date with the latest industry developments and learn best practices from your peers.

The following organisations are networks of accommodation, hospitality and tourism businesses: 

• Northern Ireland Hotel's Federation
• Visit Belfast
• Visit Derry
• Visit Causeway Coast & Glens
• Fermanagh Lakelands

Additional support

Tourism NI offers a range of support for tourist accommodation businesses including:

• Northern Ireland marketed as a tourism destination via Tourism NI's consumer website Discover Northern Ireland.
• Access to industry events which includes roadshows, masterclasses, business insights and conferences