IHG to open two hotels at Manchester Business School site

The 210-bedroom Crowne Plaza - Oxford Road and the 116-bedroom Staybridge Suites Manchester - Oxford Road, will both operate under a franchise agreement with owner partner M&L Hospitality and will be managed by Cycas Hospitality.

Scheduled to open at the end of next year, the new-build properties will form part of Bruntwood's wider redevelopment of Manchester Business School (MBS) and will adjoin the two-storey Executive Education Centre. Their opening will take IHG’s portfolio of hotels in Manchester to 21.

Key city​

Philip Lassman, director of development for the UK & Ireland, IHG, said: "Manchester is a key city for us and it’s great to see an appetite for our extended stay brand Staybridge Suites here.  

"Crowne Plaza Manchester – Oxford Road will be our third Crowne Plaza hotel in Manchester; and the brand – with its renowned meeting facilities and focus on supporting people who travel for success - is really gaining momentum across the UK.”

Well-trusted​

Neil Maxwell, chief executive of M&L Hospitality said it had been looking to work with 'well-trusted brands' which could provide a range of short and long-stay options close to the campus.

"The Manchester development marks our second venture in the UK and our expansion here is a reflection of our confidence in the market,” he added.

The hotels are expected to attract visitors to the University of Manchester as well as the city itself.

Professor Fiona Devine, head of Manchester Business School, said: "Our aim is to provide high end accommodation that will have wider benefits for visitors to The University of Manchester, the city and region. The Staybridge Suites hotel in particular offers a range of benefits to our Executive Education and Global MBA delegates who are often in Manchester for extended periods."