Stephen Rycroft, Manchester Marriott Lodge Piccadilly

BHN speaks to Stephen Rycroft, basic supervisor of the four-star Manchester Marriott Lodge Piccadilly, following the lodge’s multimillion pound renovation and repositioning.

• Have been there any challenges related to the repositioning of Manchester Marriott Lodge Piccadilly?  

We spent £30 million on this property, rebranding to a Marriott lodge and nonetheless buying and selling by way of while we had been doing that refurbishment. 

So a few of the questions that we had to determine included: How can we nonetheless present restaurant companies for company? How do we offer breakfast after we’ve received the restaurant being taken offline and refurbished? The place can we place the reception desk, for instance, in order that we’re nonetheless in a position to take care of the wants of consumers?

We additionally had the challenges of updating to Marriott’s proprietary methods. We calculated that in October of 2023, we wrapped up round 5,000 coaching hours whereas nonetheless working the lodge.

• How is the expansion of Manchester’s tourism trade shaping future provide, and what impact will this have on the aggressive lodge panorama within the metropolis?

Manchester is a really numerous metropolis. I believe the continued success of its sporting groups resembling Manchester Metropolis in latest instances, has opened up Manchester to new company and followers visiting from all around the world. That is supported by new airways approaching board with new routes into Manchester airport, so we’ve seen progress from the USA, a welcome return from the Chinese language market, alongside the Center East and India as progress markets.

There’s such a various vary of accommodations in Manchester, there’s a lodge selection for each visitor. Our lodge, for example, is the biggest four-star upscale lodge in Manchester, positioned proper subsequent to Piccadilly prepare station, with nice assembly amenities. This implies we’re in a position to accommodate company midweek company in our lodge, and in addition the leisure visitor who’re visiting on the weekends. 

New choices such because the Co-op Dwell can be bringing a resurgence of leisure, notably dwell music, which isn’t too totally different to once I was rising up within the ‘90s. Town definitely has an providing for everyone.