- NI hotels sold 233,241 rooms and 425,687 beds in July 2026.
- Room sales increased by 20 pc compared to July 2025.
- Occupancy rose from 65 pc to 74 pc in July 2026.
- Total hotel capacity exceeded 10,000 rooms for the first time.
- Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann drew an estimated 1.65m visitors to the region.
NI hotels sold a record 233,241 rooms and 425,687 beds in July 2026, according to official government data published by the NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). This marked a rise of almost 40,000 rooms or 20 pc on July 2025, with occupancy climbing from 65 pc to 74 pc. The sector has now passed 10,000 rooms for the first time, reflecting expanded capacity compared with earlier peak years.
The major catalyst for this unprecedented surge was the massive influx of visitors gearing up for the August launch of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which drew an estimated 1.65m people to the region. The bumper sales coincide with structural growth in local tourism infrastructure, as the total hotel capacity in NI recently surpassed 10,000 rooms for the first time. The figures provide a massive boost to local hospitality businesses, which have been navigating ongoing operational pressures like high England VAT rates, energy inflation, and increased labour costs.
Almost 40,000 (20 pc) more hotel rooms were sold in July 2026 compared to July 2025, when Portrush hosted The Open. The strong performance came ahead of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and reflects expanded capacity compared with earlier peak years. Sales reaching historic highs have been recorded across the sector.
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