Hi °C | Lo °C Northern Ireland's biggest annual property awards will be launched today.
The Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Property Awards 2007, which are sponsored by Ulster Bank, will once again celebrate excellence within the province's thriving property sector.
Now in their second year, the awards have been designed to encompass every aspect of the property sector - residential and commercial, developers, developments, marketing and investment deals.
The inaugural awards attracted a high number of entries - and the accolades were presented at a sell-out gala dinner.
Simon Mann, commercial director of Independent News and Media Northern Ireland, publisher of the Belfast Telegraph, said last year's awards had proved extremely popular and the organisers are looking forward to another successful year.
Ulster Bank's head of corporate and property banking, Henry Elvin, pointed out: "The local property industry has been more than an important supporter and facilitator of economic development; it has been a major catalyst for positive change in Northern Ireland.
"Through bold investments and innovative developments in the retail, hotel, leisure and other sectors, the property industry has helped create the confidence that is now encouraging greater inward investment and the growth of the tourism industry.
"And the construction sector is now one of Northern Ireland's largest employers and a major driver of economic expansion."
The bank's director of property finance, Richard Ennis, said achievements within the property industry are well worth celebrating.
"The hundreds of millions of pounds worth of urban regeneration planned and under way at places like Belfast's Titanic Quarter, Cathedral Quarter, Sirocco site and the proposed Royal Exchange scheme is testimony to the vision and creativity of Northern Ireland's property sector, which is now considered amongst the most shrewd and dynamic in Europe," he said.
This year's property awards will be presented at a gala ceremony in Belfast's Ramada Hotel on November 15.
See today's Business Telegraph
