An “outstanding” 2017 has been reported by the Northern Irish hotels industry, with record numbers of rooms being sold, according to a leading chartered accountancy firm.

ASM Chartered Accountants, which analyses the sector annually, reported that 2.3 million rooms were sold in 2017, while occupancy reached 77 per cent and the average room rate saw an uplift of 10 per cent to £90.48 a night. Total revenue per room climbed to £66,206 - a 43 per cent rise in two years.

ASM called Londonderry "the star of the show” in Northern Ireland’s hotel boom, with improved profitability particularly highlighted. The capital Belfast, however, saw profitability remain “static year-on-year because of cost pressures".

The report from the accountancy company seemed sceptical as to whether this success rate will continue into 2018 though, highlighting that occupancy may “soften”.

ASM's director of consulting Michael Williamson also outlined some caution around staffing. "Perhaps the bigger challenge facing the industry is not the arrival of new supply, but the availability of well-trained staff," he said.

Nonetheless, new hotels are to add close to 1,000 bedrooms in Belfast alone in 2018.