McKeever hotel family share their story with Antrim Chamber after £1m Dunsilly upgrade

LOCAL family-run hotel group, McKeever Hotels, has unveiled the results of a £1million investment in the Dunsilly Hotel.

The investment is part of the group’s strategic three-year growth plan, which is underpinned by a £3m capital expenditure across the five McKeever Hotels.

The changes at The Dunsilly include a complete refurbishment and upgrade of the entire suite of 40 bedrooms, event spaces and lobby, equipping each with the latest technologies, fittings and modern furnishings.

The popular facility has changed extensively and grown in popularity since it was bought by the McKeever Group in 1999.

Originally purchased as a local bar, it was completely redeveloped, re-opening in 2005 as a 40-bedroom hotel with extensive local grill and bespoke events spaces, enabling it to cater to a more diverse customer base.

The latest investment in the hotel will further enhance the guest experience to meet the evolving needs of its customers, driven by its proximity to Belfast International Airport, accessibility via the M2, as well as the new business and housing developments in the greater Antrim area.

The family also owns the Dunadry, Corr’s Corner, the Adair Arms in Ballymena and Dillon’s in Letterkenny.

Eddie McKeever, Managing Director said: “The £1million investment in The Dunsilly Hotel is part of our new future focused strategy announced last year, and while the facility has changed a great deal since we bought it in 1999, we have ensured it has never lost its strong sense of community.

“The end result is a much-needed modern look and feel which will meet the needs of our changing and ever-expanding customer base.”

Kris Cunningham, General Manager at the Dunsilly Hotel added: “We’re all absolutely delighted with the results of the latest refurbishment. The bedrooms look really luxurious and have a relaxing, calming effect, while our new-look lobby and event spaces are both welcoming and offer a much higher level of functionality.

“We’re all looking forward to welcoming guests, old and new, to come and experience the transformation themselves.”

The McKeever family, including dad Eugene and Eddie’s sister Bridgene, welcomed Antrim Chamber of Commerce to the Dunsilly on Friday for a tour of the newly refurbished rooms.

After a breakfast, Bridgene interviewed her father and brother on the secrets to their success, where Eugene told of how he started out washing dishes at Corr’s Corner before becoming head chef and eventually purchasing and expanding the premises.

He explained that he purchased the Dunadry by chance after a discussion with a solicitor over a tricky former customer. And he revealed that he considered giving up the trade after over 40 windows were smashed in Granagh House, the restaurant he used to run in Randalstown after a riot outside. He explained that the late Dr John Stewart called at the door and encouraged the family to stay.

During a Q&A session, the family discussed succession, resilience, staff retention and keeping an eye on costs.

Eugene McKeever said that staff and business had been hit by the impact of Brexit on immigration and tourism.

He said that he was once forced to drive to Letterkenny to buy a light, as posting it involved too much paperwork.

Eddie said that contrary to popular opinion, young people were eager for work.

“People have a bad word on young people, but it’s all about how you treat them. We put a big emphasis on training and development and have found that the teenagers who come in part time, even when they go through their degrees, want to stay on and work in the industry.”

All three agreed that while things were going well for the company, they always had their eye on expanding the portfolio, if a suitable opportunity presented itself.

Said Bridgene: “It’s like buying a house, we need to like the feel of it when we walk in and whether we can make it work.”