Coca-Cola gets four stars for its visitors centre

Howard Hastings, NITB Chairman presents Ailish Forde (Public Affairs and Communications Director), Frank ODonnell (Managing Director), and Sarah Smith (Visitor Experience Co-ordinator) from Coca Cola with their four-star plaque

A four-star rating indicates that the attraction is of an ‘excellent’ standard.

The Coca-Cola Visitors Experience at Knockmore Hill is a unique space blending education and entertainment, which gives people the opportunity to sneak a peek behind the world’s number one soft drink.

Visitors to the state-of-the-art Coca Cola Hellenic plant can enrich their understanding of Coca Cola HBC via a multi-sensory learning experience that not only communicates the chronological history of the world’s most famous sparkling drink, but also opens the doorway to one of Coca Cola’s most modern and technologically advanced European production and distribution centres.

A free tour takes visitors through the main production facility to get a bird’s eye view of how the products are made, bottled, packaged and stored.

There is also a short film on the remarkable 125- year history of Coca-Cola.

Commenting on gaining the four-star grading Ailish Forde, Public Affairs and Communications Director of Coca-Cola HBC, said: “We are so proud that the Coca-Cola Visitors Experience has been recognised by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board as a four-star visitor attraction.

“Since opening in 2010, we have welcomed over 38,000 guests through the doors of Coca-Cola and I’m confident that, with this endorsement, the Visitors Experience will continue to grow in popularity.”

NITB’s grading scheme is open to visitor attractions across a broad spectrum including castles, museums, tours, gardens and garden centres, art venues, wildlife experiences and historic attractions.

Attractions are assessed by an experienced quality advisor who carries out a ‘mystery shopper’ visit.

Howard Hastings, NITB Chairman, said: “The quality of the visitor experience is central to the success of any attraction. The NITB Visitor Attraction Grading Scheme provides visitors with information on the quality of the experience they can expect at Northern Ireland’s tourist attractions.

The scheme is currently open for applications and further information can be found at www.nitb.com/qualityassurance.