Lord Diljit Rana, chairman and chief executive of Andras House, gained the Special Judges Award in the Permament TSB Ethnic Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2008. He  gained the prestigious award in recognition of his contribution to the Northern Ireland economy and in fostering business and other links with India.  Lord Rana has been involved with the overseas Indian community for many years. He promotes business links between India and Northern Ireland and has served as president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce.

The awards showcase the contribution of various ethnic groups to developments in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Andras House Chairman Lord Diljit Rana has been shortlisted in the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards for 2007.

Lord Rana is among 24 Irish business people to reach the final stages of the prestigious competition to find the most enterprising business person in Ireland. He is among just six from Northern Ireland to be selected by the judges.

The Ireland event is part of an international search to find the top entrepreneur of 2007. The winner in Ireland will be announced in October by Ernst and Young.

The Ramada Belfast Hotel, an Andras House Group's four-star hotel, has gained the coveted Taste of Ulster award for food prepared and served in its BBG restaurant.

The restaurant was nominated by the Northern Ireland Food and Drinks Association, which represents food and drink producers in region, and approved following a rigorous assessment that included a visit by an experienced mystery judge.

The assessment covered the use of local produce; the ability to provide a positive eating experience; presentation of food; and service. BBG passed with flying colours on all these categories.

The mystery guest recommended the restaurant and commended the quality of food, presentation and service as all being excellent.

The Ramada Belfast Hotel, the Andras House Group in south Belfast, has recently collected two major awards that reflect the quality of its services to customers.

The four-star hotel was a winner in the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment's Employers' and Schools' awards held as part of Employability/FEST07. The awards were made to successful partnerships formed by schools and employers to support the introduction of Education for Employability as part of the Revised Northern Ireland Curriculum in September.

The second award was for Paul Kirkpatrick, the Ramada's Revenue Manager, who gained a Janus Award from the Institute of Hospitality as Room Division M manager of the Year. The international awards recognise high standards of professionalism within the global hospitality industry.

AWARD WINNERS: left to right, Paul Kirkpatrick, Revenue Manager at the Ramada Belfast Hotel with his Janus Award; Tony Murdock, Acting General Manager, Ramada Belfast Hotel with the Employability/FEST07 Award; and Graham Burns, Executive Head Chef at the Ramada Belfast with the Taste of Ulster Award

Days Hotel in Belfast, the Andras House Group 250 bedroom property in the city centre, has been chosen as a base for the pre-production team planning the City of Ember movie to be filmed in Belfast this summer.

The team is part of the Playtone Productions and Walden Media project. Starring in the movie will be Bill Murray.

The movie is based on a children's fantasy sci-fi adventure from the book by American writer Jeanne DuPrau and is set in a future when the earth's citizens have moved underground to escape the planet's toxic atmosphere. 

It is being filmed entirely in Northern Ireland.  Pre-production has already begun on the massive set build, which will see the former Harland and Wolff Paint Hall in the Titanic Quarter transformed into the underground city of Ember.

Andras House is to build five new hotels in Northern Ireland in a £50 million investment programme. All the new hotels will be operated by the company under the internationally recognised Ibis brand, new to Northern Ireland.

The expansion, which will mean around 500 new bedrooms, was announced by Lord Diljit Rana, Andras House Chairman and recent recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in the awards ceremony organised by the Northern Ireland Tourism Board. Andras House currently has over 500 bedrooms in four hotels in Belfast.

Lord Rana said: "This important strategic investment indicates our confidence in the growth potential of the tourist industry throughout Northern Ireland. We have already acquired sites in Belfast and are actively seeking locations in provincial centres.

"I believe that the future for tourism here is excellent especially now local politicians are back in government and in a position to help create the conditions in which investment will flourish..

"We look forward to working closely with the Executive in measures to accelerate the growth of an industry which has massive potential in terms of wealth creation and employment.

"Work on the first hotel, in King Street, Belfast, will start within the next few weeks and should see the first Ibis Hotel in Northern Ireland open for business early in 2008. The new hotel will contribute substantially to initiatives to enhance the city centre and the King Street/Castle Street area in particular.

"We anticipate that the expansion will create up to 200 new jobs throughout Northern Ireland and see Andras House become Northern Ireland's leading hotel chain," he added.

Ibis Hotels are part of the French-owned Accor Group, one of the world leaders in the hospitality industry. There are currently more 750 Ibis hotels in 36 countries offering around 83,000 rooms. Ibis hotels are rated as quality three-star properties with an international reputation for excellent accommodation and services.

Andras House has a successful track record in attracting international brands to Belfast. Group hotels currently include the four star Ramada Belfast at Shaw's Bridge, Days Hotel and Holiday Inn Express, both three stars, and Renshaws. The group employs over 300 people. The Ramada is part of the international Wyndham Group; Days and Holiday Inn Express are brands of InterContinental Hotels

Lord Diljit Rana, Chairman and Chief Executive of Andras House property and hospitality group in Belfast, has been elected the first Chairman of the new all-Ireland chapter of Gopio, an international organisation of people of Indian origin currently living abroad.

The new chapter was officially inaugurated on Sunday, 29th July, 2007 in Dublin and covers all 32 counties of island of Ireland. The unique Gopio chapter unites Indians from two states with different cultural traditions in a single organisation, reflecting the changing political climate in Ireland.

Lord Rana, who is also Honorary Consul for India in Northern Ireland, commenting on his election, said: "It's a tremendous honour to be chosen to lead the Irish chapter of this global organisation which seeks to both represent Indian nationals living abroad and to strengthen links between India and the rest of the world.

"I am confident that the benefits for both parts of Ireland from developing business and other relationships with India, now among the world's most dynamic economies will be immense. It will promote greater co-operation particularly in areas such as investment, trade and education.

"In addition, the formation of a Gopio chapter in Ireland indicates the growing role of people of Indian origin in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland across a broad range of activities and occupations.

"I believe the chapter can play its part in co-ordinating activities between India and both parts of Ireland. I've already had the privilege of being part of the first all-Ireland business mission to Indian that was led by Mr Bertie Ahern, Prime Minister of Ireland, in 2006. As a result investment and trade links between India and both parts of Ireland are stronger now than ever before. I look forward to continuing to make a substantial contribution to these relationships."

The inauguration took place in the magnificent St Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle. The St Patrick's Hall has been a venue for a number of major EU meetings during Irish Presidency of the European Union in the past. It was also the birthplace of Anglo-Irish agreement that culminated in devolution and the power sharing government in Northern Ireland.

The Chairman of the GOPIO International Dr. Thomas Abraham, from New York, was present at the event with Mr Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs and Mr Anand Sharma, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for EU from India.  Mr Michael Martin Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Minister Tom Kitt, Government Chief Whip, were also present.

Other guests includes a few Members of the European Parliament, EU and UK Gopio officials, leading PIO and NRI persons and representatives from the Government establishments in Ireland, UK and the European Union.

Similar to other Gopio chapters, Gopio Ireland will be a non-partisan secular organisation engaged in promoting the well being of people of Indian origin, and enhancing their cooperation in the island of Ireland.

Lord Rana is also Executive Vice-President of Gopio international.

Dr Prabhu Kulkarni, India Director of Asia Trade Forum of the Irish Exporters Association, is president and

Dr. Satish Kumar, Lecturer, School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast, is Hon Secretary

Andras House Chairman Lord Diljit Rana was one of the keynote speakers at a major event in London to mark the 60th anniversary of the independence of India and Pakistan.

Lord Rana, who is also honorary consul for India in Northern Ireland and was born in India, was a speaker at a gala event organised by the Pakistan, India and UK Friendship Forum and attended by over 500 British citizens of Indian and Pakistan descent.

The objective of the event was to promote peace and harmony between the two nations. Lord Rana told guests that by working together both could ensure that South Asia continues its path to become a global economic powerhouse. He said the 21st century could become South Asia's most exciting period for economic, political and social transformation.

The Pakistan, India and UK Friendship Forum was set up in 2006 to bring together these two communities who have not enjoyed peace ever since they came into being. The initiative is to improve British community cohesion here, where large numbers of people from India and Pakistan are now settled. Their mutual differences can affect society as a whole.

Sir Gulam Noon, one of the patrons, whose own vision is to see people living in Britain as British citizens, rather than getting involved in the politics of the sub-continent, welcomed the guests and wished the forum continued success. The general secretary, Dr Ashraf Chohan, who is originally from Pakistan, expressed his happiness in seeing so many Pakistanis and Indians joining for the first time as brothers, as they once were. 

Lord Diljit Rana, Chairman of Andras House Group and Honorary Consul for India in Northern Ireland, opened the Belfast Mela festival on Sunday, 26th August.

The Mela celebrated the huge contribution of the South Asian community to Northern Ireland with a richly colourful festival of high quality music, dance and food. Northern Ireland has a sizeable community from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Lord Rana said: "The Belfast Mela is a celebration of diversity, of the many ethnic cultures to be found here in Northern Ireland. There could hardly be a better time to celebrate diversity, understanding and tolerance in Northern Ireland now that we have a new cross-community government.

"We must try to build on the political and other progress over the past few months to create a stronger economy that offers greater opportunities to all our people whatever their background and to shape a society which respects the rights, views and culture of all.

"I am proud to be a citizen of Belfast…and I take great pride in by Indian background. As well as promoting cultural exchanges within Northern Ireland, I believe the Mela can help us to focus on global issues including educational disadvantage and poverty.

"Northern Ireland must - and can - play a much greater role in the world particularly in developing countries. Many organisations and individuals are already doing so. I am convinced that we have much to gain as a community from providing our knowledge and skills to nations beyond our existing horizons," he said.

Cordia Hotels has announced tan Employee of the Quarter and the Employee of the Year Awards sponsored by United Wine Merchants.

At the launch of the awards in the Ramada Hotel Belfast, Mr James O'Neill, managing director of United Wines Merchants, said: "We are delighted to sponsor these awards for Cordia Hotels.  We have had a close working relationship with Cordia Hotels since August 2005 and feel this will go a long way to strengthen this relationship and show our commitment to the company."

Mr Lee Madden, group operations manager of Cordia Hotels,said: "These awards will boost the morale of the staff and management and encourage them to strive to exceed the existing high levels of customer service currently experienced by our customers in all the Cordia properties." The awards consist of quarterly prizes for the best employee in each hotel with a quarterly prize for the best employee in the group, and culminating in an all expenses paid week-long trip to an exclusive vineyard for the best employee within the group each year."

United Wine Merchants was established in 1985 by Mr O'Neill.  It is a dynamic drinks company that provides premium drinks brands to both the on and off trade sectors in the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland markets.  The company  has gone from strength to strength in terms of their product portfolio, with new exciting brands being continually added to their already extensive drinks range.  United Wine Merchants pride itself on being a total solution provider for the licensed trade right across Ireland and is confident that it will continue to provide an exceptional service to the Cordia Hotel group.

A unique complex of 24 high specification and fully serviced apartments has been developed for the corporate accommodation market in Belfast by Andras House.

Cordia Serviced Apartments, located on the Lisburn Road in Belfast, have been designed to offer top of the range facilities for senior staff posted to Northern Ireland by international companies and other organisations.

The apartments offer tenants superb accommodation that includes unique amenities such as plasma television with a CD/DVD players, television in all bedrooms, wi-fi throughout each apartment, secure car parking as well as gas heating, a fully fitted kitchen with the latest appliances and direct dial telephone system.

All apartments are fully decorated and furnished to the highest standards.The complex offers 21 two-bedroom and three single-bedroom apartments. Each apartment has its own balcony with stunning views and is accessed by a lift. A regular cleaning service is also being provided as part of the tenancy contract.