The man at the helm of city region’s hotel sector has welcomed the proposed £180 million hotel district development at Airport City Manchester.
Adrian Ellis, Chair of Manchester Hoteliers’ Association (MHA), said the district will enhance Manchester’s reputation internationally.
He also believes the district – coupled with the wider £1 billion Manchester Airport transformation programme – will boost visitor numbers in the city centre.
When complete the proposed development at Airport City Manchester will see four hotels built and open by 2021 – providing 1,171 new hotel rooms.
Mr Ellis said: “There’s no question that the growth expected at the Airport and Airport City will be beneficial for city centre hotels.
“The new hotel district at Airport City will enhance Manchester’s reputation internationally – with the continued Airport growth and increase in direct flights to China, India and America certain to boost the number of international visitors to Manchester.
“For a large part of the hotel community in Manchester, international bookings represent about 10-15% of bookings.
“Because of the airport growth, I’d expect hotels in the city to almost double international bookings.”
There are currently 22,000 hotel bedrooms in Greater Manchester, with 9,000 of those based in the city centre.
“Manchester’s offer to visitors and tourists is phenomenal and the international market potential here is huge,” added Mr Ellis.
“In 2017 26 million passengers passed through Manchester Airport. By 2027 that figure is expected to hit 35 million.
“The new hotel district will sustain the amount of passengers expected by 2027 while the city centre hotels will also benefit too.”
