Portadown-based The Deluxe Group has secured a £30 million contract for cruise ship interior outfitting of a new vessel in Germany.
The Deluxe Group’s team will be spending 12 months fitting out dining and entertainment spaces onboard the new vessel in preparation for passengers embarking on the vessel in 2025.
This project follows the award of a multi-venue refurbishment taking place in France within a fast-paced 30 day dry dock, setting up The Deluxe Group for their busiest year in the marine sector yet.
Prefabrication for the cruise line projects will take place at The Deluxe Group’s expanded Portadown workshops, which recently benefited from a £1.5 million investment and the creation of 30 new jobs.
The company will use innovative 3D digital technology in the design and manufacturing, ensuring precision and efficiency in meeting the demanding project timelines.
Colm O’Farrell, Executive Chairman of The Deluxe Group said: “Clients seeking to bring to life their imaginative concepts, now see The Deluxe Group as a one stop shop with our in-house design, joinery and composites workshops pushing the boundaries of creative fabrication.”
These new contracts build on The Deluxe Group’s portfolio, including its largest project to-date in the USA, where a team is currently installing a thrilling experience based on a popular film franchise. Prefabricated at The Deluxe Group’s new 40,000 sq. ft. facility near Belfast International Airport, this attraction is set to debut next year at a new theme park in Orlando.
Over the past three years, the company has seen a 45% increase in export sales, with more than half of its turnover coming from international projects in countries such as Japan, Spain, and the USA.
In the UK, the company is also renowned for delivering luxurious interiors for hospitality venues, high-end retail spaces, and branded residential developments like the iconic Old War Office by Raffles in London.
Mr. O’Farrell added: “With our new subsidiary in Florida, the home of both the cruise and themed entertainment industries, we are well-positioned to grow our share of the expanding experience economy.”
Steve Harper, Executive Director of International Business and Skills at Invest Northern Ireland said: “The Deluxe Group is a company that is committed to growing in new markets. It is brilliant to see this new contract win build upon its impressive portfolio.
“Wins like this are an example of how the advice and guidance of our trade and in-market teams has a direct impact on a company’s export success. Over the last three years we have helped local companies secure contract wins worth nearly £200 million across GB & Europe.
“These wins not only contribute to businesses bottom line and future resilience but also help put Northern Ireland on the global stage as a provider of quality goods and services.”
Welcoming this major contract win, the Lord Mayor of ABC Council, Sarah Duffy, said: “I’m delighted for the Executive Chairman, Colm O’Farrell, and his hugely talented team of multi-skilled craftspeople at The Deluxe Group.
“This awarded contract testifies to the company’s high quality of workmanship and unstinting commitment to creating authentic story-led interiors, using the latest 3D design and advanced manufacturing technology to bring imaginative concepts to life.
“Over the past decade, the company has grown to become widely recognised as a major player on the global stage in the upmarket fit-out industry. It boasts a stellar portfolio of internationally recognised brands such as Universal Studios, Disney, AC Marriott, Marella Cruises, The Old War Office by Raffles in London to name but a few.
“Exciting times lie ahead for The Deluxe Group. I look forward to hearing about future developments as the company builds on its success in international markets and grows its share of the expanding experience economy.”
Acknowledging that The Deluxe Group deserves all the plaudits it receives, Alderman Paul Greenfield, Chair of the Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration Committee, added: “This is brilliant news for The Deluxe Group and a great boost to the local economy. The company has retained the positive attributes associated with a family-owned business but has combined these with a global outlook and innovative approach to grow from a
specialist decorative finishes sub-contractor to delivering world-class turn-key fit-out interiors.
“Over the past few years, it has achieved exponential growth with a 45% increase in export sales and more than half of its turnover coming from international projects in countries such as Japan, Spain, and the USA.
“I hope The Deluxe Group’s success story inspires other businesses from the borough to explore new export opportunities.”
