A Portadown-based company have been officially resented with The King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade celebrating a milestone moment.
The Deluxe Group received the award in recognition of its outstanding short-term growth in global sales over the past three years.
The presentation took place on Thursday November 6, 2025 during a special ceremony held at The Palace, Armagh.
The award was formally presented on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III by Rt Hon The Earl of Caledon KCVO JP, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for County Armagh.
Guests were welcomed by Alderman Stephen Moutray, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, with Charlene Stoops, Deputy Chief Executive of ABC Council, acting as Master of Ceremonies.
Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Executive Chairman Colm O’Farrell acknowledged the incredible contribution of the entire Deluxe team, whose skill, innovation and dedication have fuelled the company’s continued international success.
“Everyone at The Deluxe Group is thrilled to win the King’s Award for International Trade for Outstanding Growth in Overseas Sales” said Colm O’ Farrell, Executive Chairman of The Deluxe Group.
“This prestigious award is a testament to the hard work of our talented team whose creativity, innovation and can-do attitude has achieved success building enthralling experiences in the themed entertainment, luxury hospitality and cruise line sectors.”
Renowned for delivering story-led interiors across the luxury hospitality, branded residential, cruise, and theme park sectors, the County Armagh company has combined creativity, technology, and craftsmanship to build a world-class reputation for immersive design and fit-out.
With over 50 years of experience, the company combines creativity, innovation, and artisan craftsmanship to create immersive interiors that deliver captivating experiences for guests of all ages. Its reputation as a global leader in experiential design continues to grow across multiple sectors.
The company counts some of the world’s leading brands amongst its clients. It uses the latest scanning technology, 3D digital design, and innovative manufacturing and installation processes to maximize pre-fabrication and minimize site installation time to deliver novel solutions to the challenges posed by customers.
Within the entertainment sector the company has gained a reputation for bringing to life iconic film and TV shows in immersive attractions that can be seen across the globe and as well as locally in the Game of Thrones Studio Tour in Banbridge.
The Deluxe Group increased overseas revenue by 575%, with export sales rising from 11% to 56% of total turnover in the three-year period. Overall turnover grew by nearly 40%, with the USA representing more than half of its exports.
Major projects have also been completed across Japan, Middle East, France, Germany, and Spain.
The 2025 awards mark the third year under His Majesty The King, continuing the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II. The awards celebrate the success of exciting and innovative businesses which are leading the way with pioneering products or services, delivering impressive social mobility programmes, or showing their commitment to excellent sustainable development practices.
Richard Hill, Business Development Director explains: “As the experience economy continues to grow with consumers increasingly valuing memorable experiences shared with family and friends, we have grown our business through creating story driven interiors that are authentic to place and resonate with guests. Our work can be seen in the most exciting attractions in theme parks, luxury hotels in reimagined historic buildings and the most immersive spaces on the latest cruise ships sailing the globe.”
“We acknowledge the continuing support from our partners in the local business development ecosystem including Invest NI, Department of Business and Trade, local universities and NI Chamber of Commerce in our endeavours to develop overseas markets.”
The company has big plans to position Northern Ireland as a global hub for the creative industries, building on the region’s rich manufacturing legacy by investing in skills, innovation, and world-class experiential design.
With high-profile projects delivered globally and a new Florida base, the company is showcasing Northern Ireland’s talent on the world stage. Backed by strong partnerships with government bodies and educational institutions, The Deluxe Group is helping to drive growth, job creation, and international recognition for the region’s creative sector.
