The Deluxe Group, a Northern Ireland fit-out company based in Portadown, Co Armagh, has clinched a £30 million contract to refurbish a German cruise ship’s interior. Operating within the themed entertainment industry, the Deluxe Group caters to sectors including hospitality, theme parks, and cruise ship interiors. The firm employs around 180 people and is known for its “experiential interiors”.
The targeted cruise ship, which is set to cruise in the Far East in 2025, will spend the next year being fitted out by the Deluxe Group, who will refurbish its dining and entertainment sections. The company intends to implement 3D digital technology for design and manufacturing in a bid to meet project deadlines, noting an increased demand for its services due to the growing popularity of themed and immersive entertainment venues on cruise ships.
The Deluxe Group, under the leadership of executive chairman Colm O’Farrell, is presented as the go-to solution for clients who aim to animate their imaginative concepts. The company’s combined in-house design, joinery and composites workshops extend the limits of inventive construction.
The past three years have seen a substantial 45% surge in the company’s export sales, with over half its turnover attributed to international projects in countries like Japan, Spain, and the United States, where it has established a base. Despite the group’s profits shrinking by a third from £832,958 in 2021 to £562,542 in 2002, its turnover increased by 20 per cent, from £15.4 million in 2021 to £19.4 million.
The company also provides luxury interiors for high-end retail spaces, hospitality venues, and exclusive residential developments such as the Old War Office by Raffles in London, within the UK. O’Farrell mentioned their Florida-based subsidiary, stating it strategically places the company to increase its share in the burgeoning experience economy.
Steve Harper, executive director of international business and skills at Invest Northern Ireland, spoke highly of Deluxe, noting its dedication to exploring new markets. He expressed delight over the company’s contract win, highlighting how the support and guidance offered by their trade and in-market teams have positively influenced the company’s export triumphs.
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