Tourism showing strong growth in Northern Ireland
Tourism to Northern Ireland is booming. Nearly six million people visited Belfast in 2004, an increase of 11% on the previous year, and doubled since 2000. Two years ago, the North had just one international air route - that is now up to 15. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board is also hoping to attract tourists from the US with "tactical advertising" to Americans with Ulster-Scottish links. The Giant's Causeway is being marketed as the "eighth wonder of the world”. – Irish Independent, 9 April
Ex airline boss looks to find hotel chain
Barbara Cassani, former boss of budget airline Go and a key member of the team bidding to stage the 2012 Olympic Games in London, is planning to launch a chain of hotels in leading European cities. She is understood to have held talks with a range of companies including Bourne Leisure, the privately owned group that includes Butlins and Haven Holidays, about financial backing for the venture. – Sunday Times, 10 April
Jurys Doyle look to Eastern Europe for expansion
Jurys Doyle is considering opening hotels in central Europe. Chairman Pat McCann has travelled to the region to scout out business opportunities, with the company's main focus on the capital cities of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and possibly the Baltic states. McCann also suggests that Dublin could be losing out on as much as €100m per year by not having a conference centre. – Irish Independent, 10 April
Call for danger fats to be banned from school dinners
A leading nutritionist has called on the government to ban school dinners containing trans fats. Dr John Briffa believes trans-fatty acids are one of the most dangerous food hazards. Following a string of medical reports linking trans fats with an increased risk of heart disease, foods containing more than 2% have been banned in Denmark – and in the US their presence must be labelled by next year. – Sunday Herald, 10 April
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