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Chinese tourists are set to deliver a major boost to the region’s retailers in the build-up to Christmas

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Tills will be ringing across the North West, with more than twenty-two thousand Far East visitors due to jet in on direct flights from both Beijing and Hong Kong during December.

Retailers say they are bracing themselves for their highest sales volumes from Chinese tourists, who are also attracted to the North by high profile Premier League fixtures (including the Manchester derby) and the Christmas Markets.

And in preparation, stores have been training staff in Mandarin and creating special sales promotions.

Clara Kwan and Jeff Tong, 36, arrived at Manchester Airport on a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong this week. The couple are visiting the UK on their honeymoon and said that thanks to a direct service, they have decided to spend four days in the North West before heading to London

During that time, they will take in a Liverpool fixture, as well as visiting the region’s designer stores.

Clara said: “We are here on honeymoon and because there is a direct flight, we decided to do three or four days in Manchester, before going on to London. It means we can go to a Liverpool game and, of course, do plenty of shopping in the North West.”

From 1st December Cathay Pacific will be increase its direct service to Hong Kong to a daily flight. During the winter months Hainan Airlines operate a three-a-week service direct to Beijing, which goes daily during the summer months.

The anticipated boost comes after a pioneering report revealed that the Far East connections are delivering a significant economic reward, or ‘China Dividend’, to the Northern Powerhouse.

The study, on the Beijing route’s one year of service, is the most comprehensive analysis ever undertaken into the economic and social impact of a brand new direct, long haul route between two countries. It has revealed that the Manchester-Beijing air route has driven a significant increase in exports, inward investment, and international student numbers into the North.

Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport, said: “The new Beijing route from Manchester is the perfect demonstration of how direct long-haul flights bring significant benefits to the whole of the North by connecting it directly to the world economy.

“The China Dividend report revealed that the new route has delivered a huge boost to the visitor economy in the North, with thousands of visitors arriving into Manchester Airport every month.

“We know the region has an array of excellent retail centres, coupled with world class sporting and cultural attractions, and they are certainly proving popular with the Chinese passengers travelling on our two direct services.”

At Manchester Airport, staff have also been trained in Mandarin as part of the airport’s onsite education academy. Since 2015 201 people have taken the course, which trains in Mandarin plus Chinese etiquette and culture. This year alone 47 course participants have found employment within the airport.

Chinese passengers take advantage of the Travelex VAT refund service available at Manchester Airport. Travelex estimates that it has completed 12,500 VAT transactions in the period between January – October 2017 at Manchester Airport.

Graham Brady, MP, said: “This route has stimulated huge demand for travel between China and the UK and in doing so has delivered a wide range of benefits to the Northern economy, including significantly increasing exports, inward investment and tourism.

“The scale of impact clearly illustrates just how beneficial having strong links with high growth markets can be and why Government should be doing everything it can to further improve  connectivity between the North and the world.”

Winners announced at the inaugural everywoman in Travel Awards

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Senior figures in the UK’s travel industry just gathered for the announcement of the winners of the inaugural everywoman in Travel Awards. The ceremony, which celebrated the enormous contribution that women make to the multi-billion-pound industry, took place at East Wintergarden, located between the iconic towers of Canary Wharf in London.

From leaders significantly increasing staff productivity through rigorous business remodelling, to an entrepreneur providing the ultimate spa experience for clients undergoing cancer treatment, through to apprentices generating record sales through social media platforms – the winners were women excelling at all stages of their career journeys. They were selected by a judging panel comprising some of the travel industry’s most discerning senior figures including Rachel O’Reilly, Head of Communications, Kuoni and Jo Rzymowska, Vice President & Managing Director, UK and Ireland & Asia at Celebrity Cruises.

Over the past 18 years, everywoman has celebrated the achievements of exceptional women working in technology, retail, entrepreneurship and transport & logistics. This year, it launched the everywoman in Travel Awards to recognise the plethora of female talent in the industry, highlight the growing need for more women in senior positions, particularly as the sector faces unprecedented challenges in light of Brexit, and encourage more women into the industry to ensure a strong pipeline of future talent.

According to research released by C&M Travel Recruitment this year*, women working within the travel industry are still earning less than their male counterparts, despite there being more women working in the sector, and they represent just 15.8% of all board members**. This is why everywoman is dedicated to promoting the immense value female talent is contributing to the businesses they own, the businesses they work for and the wider travel industry.

Karen Morris, Global Operations Director for Travel Counsellors from Manchester, won the Above & Beyond Award, sponsored by The Travel Network Group, awarded to a woman at any stage of her career that has truly gone above and beyond her role to help drive the organisation’s success.

Karen secured her first role in the travel industry at aged 16. She is now driving how Travel Counsellors supports health and wellbeing, reflecting her passion for supporting the people around her. She oversees 1,700 individual Travel Counsellors across seven countries and personally managed the fallout from the 2004 Tsunami and the Iceland ash cloud incident in 2010.

Karen Gill MBE, co-founder of everywoman, comments: “As we celebrate our 18-year anniversary, everywoman is immensely proud to have launched the inaugural everywoman in Travel Awards. We have been overwhelmed by the strength of the entries we received and congratulate the very deserving winners. We believe that these women represent a true reflection of the breadth of female talent across the travel industry and at all stages of the career journey. The applications we received for the programme’s first year have already proven the dedication and tenacity that women in this industry possess. We look forward to unveiling more success stories in the years to come.”

Gary Lewis, CEO, The Travel Network Group, said: “The Travel Network Group is delighted to be a key sponsor of the everywoman Travel Awards.  A large number of our 930-strong membership is made up of inspirational and entrepreneurial females and our business is largely driven by the leadership of strong individuals, many of whom are women. As a group we strive to operate a working environment that is equal for all, regardless of gender, race or religion and one that promotes equal opportunities for all to flourish. The everywoman Travel Awards is a great platform on which to showcase the amazing female talent we have in our industry, and as the leading travel membership group in the UK, we are proud to be a part of it.”

 

 

Sale Sharks ‘100 Club’ annual review sees Tom Curry’s boyhood club receive £10k

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Hundreds gathered for Sale Sharks’ ‘100 Club’ annual review, with Tom Curry’s boyhood rugby club landing a major financial boost.

At 18 years and 360 days old Tom, who grew up playing for Crewe & Nantwich RUFC alongside twin brother Ben, became England’s youngest debutant since Jonny Wilkinson during the summer fixture against Argentina.

As part of Sale Sharks’ ‘100 Club’ – a major project to help secure the future of rugby in the North West of England – the Premiership outfit gave £10,000 to Crewe & Nantwich in recognition of Curry landing an international appearance.

During the ‘100 Club’ annual review, which is run in partnership with Bollington Insurance, a further £8,000 was donated to grassroots clubs throughout the north west.

Manchester Rugby Club and Waterloo each pocketed £2,000 after former players Luke James and Sam Moore made their Sale Sharks debuts earlier this season.

Aaron Reed and Matt Sturgess’ first appearances for the north west’s only Premiership rugby side saw their ex-club Preston Grasshoppers land a total cash injection of £4,000.

Sale Sharks’ director of rugby Steve Diamond said: “Sale Sharks’ vision is to have 75% of our senior squad consisting of players from the North West of England by 2020, and the ‘100 Club’ in association with Bollington Insurance is an integral part of that objective.

“The first full year of the ‘100 Club’ has been a real success. Strategically, we are well on our way to achieving objectives which include creating well balanced young people, developing future England internationals, retaining talent in the north west talent pool and rewarding grassroots clubs across the region.”

He added: “Since January 2017 coach education sessions have been completed at 10 rugby clubs, with 12 more planned for other clubs in the region during the remainder of the 2017/18 season.

“As part of this pioneering long-term initiative 1,277 players have been assessed for the Academy Developing Player Pathway (DPP), with 608 players currently in the DPP, 890 players expected to be in it by the end of the season and 73 clubs represented in the DPP.”

As an official partner Bollington Insurance is providing quality commercial insurance and risk assessments to rugby clubs who form part of the ‘100 Club’, as well as competitively priced personal and commercial insurance to club members and their families.

Wayne Andrew, Corporate Business Development Manager at Bollington Insurance, said: “The ‘100 Club’ aims to help secure the future of rugby in the North West of England.

“We’re delighted to be so involved with this unique project which helps young sportspeople reach their full potential.”

Manchester heads regional hotel investment

Manchester has retained its position as the most attractive hotel investment destination in England outside of London, ahead of Cambridge, Oxford, and Bath, according to an annual survey of senior hospitality industry leaders by Deloitte.

Deloitte’s European Hotel Investment Survey, which focuses on the UK and wider European hotel market, has revealed that investment in the Manchester hotel sector is set to continue its momentum in 2018 as the region delivers key projects.

According to the findings of the survey, which follow the 29th annual European Hotel Investment Conference, hotel investors are optimistic about 2018 growth prospects in the Regional UK hotel market. Growth is expected to be highest in the larger cities, such as Manchester, with the majority of respondents expecting growth between 1-3 per cent.

The findings are in line with Deloitte’s annual Manchester Crane survey, released in January this year. Offering a definitive review of construction and a barometer of future supply for real estate development in Manchester, the report noted an uptick in the regional hotel sector.

Adding to the 338 rooms delivered in 2016, a further 1,040 rooms were under construction and expected to complete this year, in a move which continues to deliver and diversify the tourist offer. Key projects under construction include Roomzzz Manchester Corn Exchange and the 19-storey Crowne Plaza and Staybridge development on Oxford Road. Both hotels are set to open in early 2018.

Simon Bedford, partner at Deloitte Real Estate, said: “Manchester has developed a robust hotel market with strong occupancy levels and a track record of absorbing new supply. Appetite for hotel investments in the region is of little surprise in the wake of tourism from overseas while the pound remains weak. It is pleasing to see Manchester secure its position as the most attractive city in England for hotel investment outside of London, and we look forward to tracking the continued growth of the sector in next year’s Manchester Crane Survey.”

Virgin Trains to(i)let Will Ferrell loo-se with onboard toilet announcements

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Virgin Trains’ passengers may be accustomed to advice not to flush their ex’s sweater, hopes, dreams or goldfish down the toilet, but when they pop to the on-board loo this festive season, they could be greeted with advice from an unexpected A-lister.

To celebrate the release of new Christmas comedy, Daddy’s Home 2, on the 22nd November, Virgin Trains on the West Coast has collaborated with Hollywood funnyman Will Ferrell to treat its passengers to some real toilet humour.

Ferrell will be on hand on selected Pendolino trains across the route to remind passengers to press the lock button of the toilet door to avoid the dreaded ‘slow reveal’, and encourage them to make the most of their journey by downloading Virgin Trains’ entertainment app, BEAM, which offers hundreds of hours of movies, TV, boxsets, magazines and games.

To coincide with the release of Daddy’s Home 2 in cinemas on November 22, customers travelling with Virgin Trains on the West Coast throughout November and December can watch Daddy’s Home, the original family comedy starring Will Farrell and Mark Wahlberg, completely free on BEAM.

Adrian Varma, Head of Commercial Partnerships at Virgin Trains on the West Coast, said: “We’re really excited to be working with Will Ferrell on Daddy’s Home 2, and to be playing the hilarious Daddy’s Home on BEAM throughout the festive period. Christmas is a busy time of year as our passengers tackle their Christmas shopping and travel home to enjoy the break with family and loved ones. We hope Will’s messages will help spread a little festive cheer to everyone travelling with Virgin Trains this Christmas.”

Will Ferrell’s on-board toilet announcements will be playing on selected Pendolino trains from 16thNovember to 31st December 2017. Daddy’s Home is showing on BEAM from November 1 until December 31, 2017. Daddy’s Home 2 is released nationwide by Paramount Pictures on Wednesday November 22, 2017.

North West recommended for smart tech pilot

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A national rollout of industrial digitalisation technology could give a huge boost to sustainability and resource efficiency, and the North West could be the first to benefit.

The recommendation is a key part of the government’s new Made Smarter Review, which was commissioned to explore how the UK could make the most of cutting-edge digitalisation of industry, also known as Industry 4.0.

Digitalised smart technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and the Internet of Things (IoT), offer huge benefits to manufacturers.

For example, AI systems can support the analysis of huge amounts of complex data collected by digitalised machinery, helping to identify “golden moments” where a product could be produced for half the energy or emissions, or scrap dramatically reduced.

Meanwhile, AR can enable engineers to see energy, water and waste flows in real time in the factory setting.

It is estimated that these sort of technologies could help deliver over £10 billion in reduced resource costs for UK manufacturers, while delivering a 4.5 per cent reduction in carbon emissions and a 25 per cent productivity boost.

However, while large companies are investing in these improvements, there is a poor level of adoption amongst SMEs due to concerns about cybersecurity and a lack of common standards allowing technologies to connect.

To help spread the benefit throughout the manufacturing sector, the Made Smarter Review recommends the creation of a ‘National Adoption Programme’ to accelerate take-up from SMEs.

The review suggests a six month pilot of the programme should take place in the North West, with the aim of engaging 3,000 SMEs.

Professor Jurgen Maier, chief executive of Siemens UK and lead author of the review, called for government and the business community to embrace the proposals.

“I believe [the proposals] represent a very positive agenda that we can all get behind. Focusing on the long-term challenge of the new industrial revolution will bring us closer together as a nation and make our country more prosperous.”

Pimberly exceeds first year ambitions earning international recognition 

Manchester-based tech business, Pimberly, has been named in technology analyst firm Forrester’s Product Information Management (PIM) report, less than a year after launching. This coveted recognition of its SaaS solution follows a fruitful year of client wins and on-boarding of new recruits.

Pimberly, backed by Jigsaw24, has added eight new members of staff to its IT and marketing teams since January. The company has also taken on 13 new clients, including Westcoast Distribution and Ellis Brigham. These successes have contributed to the firm securing more than £500k of annual contracted revenues since launch.

The report, Vendor Landscape: Product Information Management (PIM), Q3, 2017, comes from one of the most highly regarded analysts in the technology industry. Forrester introduces business leaders to the PIM landscape as companies, particularly in retail, ecommerce and distribution, search for solutions to manage an increasing range of product data across numerous customer touchpoints.

Pimberly, based in St James’ Tower in Manchester city centre, is the only wholly UK owned and based PIM provider named in the report. The inclusion is a huge boost to what is an already vibrant, fast-paced North West retail scene, which includes several household names and supporting tech partners.

Martin Balaam, CEO at Pimberly said: “This is the cherry on top of what was already a fantastic first year for us.We’re all ecstatic to be included in Forrester’s new global PIM report and this is testament to the incredible effort and commitment from everyone at Pimberly.

“The fact that we’re also the only UK owned firm to be included says a lot for the quality of our technology.Pimberly is putting Manchester at the centre of innovation when it comes to PIM technology in the UK, and our solution is now turning heads on a global scale.”

PIM software allows companies to enrich product data that can include images, video, dimension information, colour, instruction manuals and price, and consolidate this information from partners and suppliers. Improving the quality of product information leads to higher conversion rates, improved SEO and fewer returns.

Forrester’s report helps digital business professionals make informed decisions about how they can use product information management (PIM) solutions to introduce products to market in a fraction of the time that it has taken in the past. The report also aims to demonstrate how users are able to eliminate thousands of spreadsheets, automate content distribution to reseller channels and onboard and govern content that hundreds of suppliers provide to them.

New look, new name and new approach for two of Greater Manchester’s business centres

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Two of Greater Manchester’s business centres are celebrating a rebrand and are now under new management as part of a UK-wide merger.

The centres in Rochdale (Norman Road) and Bolton (Manchester Road) are now under new management, having been rebranded from the previous Evans Easyspace to Flexspace. Lee Maytum, Managing Director of Flexspace, explains:“At the start of 2017 we started to merge 50 Evans Easyspace centres across the UK into an existing portfolio of eight Flexspace centres.

“The rebrand to Flexspace is, in fact, one of the final steps of the merger. The last six months have been focussed on ensuring each of the new Flexspace centres benefits from improved data connectivity, telecoms, customer service and much more.”

Spencer Davies, Area Manager for Flexspace in Bolton, adds: “Along with the rebrand from Evans Easyspace to Flexspace we will be providing a more personal service to tenants in Greater Manchester. Starting up or managing a small business is a challenge; as Flexspace and with our new management, we’re set up to provide support to business owners as and when they need it.”

Travel Counsellors best for customer service

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Travel Counsellors, the provider of bespoke corporate and leisure travel, has been recognised by the National Business Awards for its outstanding levels of service, claiming the 2017 Customer Focus Award.

This rounds off an exceptional 12 months for the Manchester-based travel company, which this year witnessed record sales figures, both in the UK and internationally. Between March 2016 and March 2017, total transactional value hit £500m for the first time, while accounting turnover rose to £188m in the year to October 2016, up from £162m last year. This is the 11th consecutive year of double digit revenue growth, while profits also rose by more than a third.

This international growth has seen the company secure a place in the 2017 Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200, the sixth time that Travel Counsellors has been included on the list.

Held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, the National Business Awards recognises and rewards excellence across the UK. Now in its 16th year, the event is attended by more than 1,200 business leaders across the country, with a judging panel including the likes of IBM, M&S, Unilever and the Prince’s Trust.

The Customer Focus Award was designed to recognise those companies that strive to innovate around customer experience and exceed existing industry standards. The judging panel considered how Travel Counsellors’ customer service strategy contributed to its improved financial performance, as well as the ongoing operational performance and leadership.

Steve Byrne, CEO at Travel Counsellors, said: “This award is testament to the quality of the people at Travel Counsellors and the care we show our customers, and reflects the success of the business model created 23 years ago. Travel Counsellors’ highly relational model is based on empowering our 1,700 travel business owners to create lasting relationships with their customers, building trust and caring for them more than anyone else.

“We invest heavily in technology to enhance the really personalised experience they provide, rather than replace it. We are constantly innovating and looking at what we can do next to support our people even further in doing this. So, we are delighted to have been recognised for our commitment to doing the right thing for our customers with such a prestigious award.”

Manchester Airports lounges have a refresh

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Manchester Airport’s four Escape Lounges have re-opened following a brand refresh and will from now on offer completely all-inclusive food and drink provided by MAG’s own staff.

The lounges have had a refresh, with new colour schemes, menu designs and locally-inspired artwork.

The new food and beverage options, which will now be handled for the first time by in house MAG staff at every lounge, are fully ‘all inclusive’. Items that used to be paid upgrade options, including hot breakfasts, premium beers and spirits, and hot meat and vegetarian main dishes, are now available for the single-entry price. This includes Veuve Valmante sparkling wine and Manchester Pale Ale, supported by a local partnership with independent Manchester brewery JW Lees.

Whatever time of the day guests visit the lounges, they will find the buffet packed with a range of delicious dishes – all freshly prepared daily on site. Passengers can enjoy a selection of breakfast favourites including pastries, cereals, fresh fruit and hot items. Those joining for brunch or lunch can discover a range of hot buffet options such as pastries, spiced chicken and curries, as well as favourites such as mac n cheese, cottage pie and the soup of the day – served alongside cold buffet salads. For those with a sweet tooth, a choice of cakes and biscuits are available.

The lounges also feature new “Instagram walls” where passengers will be in with a chance of seeing their own Instagram photos displayed for a limited period of time.  Guests simple have to tag the lounge – @escapelounges or use the hashtag – #escapelounge

Beth Brewster, Executive Vice President, Lounges at MAG said: “Since opening our first Escape Lounge in 2000 their popularity has risen with our passengers.  We have taken this opportunity to give our Manchester lounges a revamp that should make them an even more enjoyable space for passengers to use before they jet away.”

Prices start from £25 per person and for more information or to book, visit: www.manchesterairport.co.uk/at-the-airport/escape-lounges/

All colleagues who worked in the Escape Lounge food and beverage operation for Delaware North Company have been given the opportunity to transfer across to become MAG employees.