Hyatt announces plans for first two Hyatt-Branded Hotels in Manchester: Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House in re-branded IHG sites at The Lume

10 September 2019

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced yesterday that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Ewart Manchester Properties Limited, a majority owned subsidiary of M&L Hospitality, for Hyatt Regency Manchester Oxford Road and Hyatt House Manchester/Oxford Road, both of which will be located in Manchester.

The 212-room Hyatt Regency hotel and the 116-room Hyatt House hotel will both be located in the landmark building “The Lume,” and are expected to open in 2020, which would bring the total number of Hyatt-branded hotels in the UK to 11 by 2022.

The new hotels will be a rebranding of the current Staybridge Suites and Crowne Plaza properties within the Lume. The two IHG hotels opened in September 2018

“We are excited to announce plans to work with M&L Hospitality to introduce two of Hyatt’s brands to Manchester.” said Felicity Black-Roberts, vice president of development Europe, Hyatt. “Hyatt has been focused on growing its brand presence in the UK, and with Manchester being one of UK’s most important commercial centers, this is a milestone. Manchester is also a destination that is increasingly gaining popularity with leisure travelers. The location by the university will allow the Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House brands to capitalize on two very different, but important, market segments by allowing guests to choose the right setting for their needs.”

Hyatt Regency Manchester Oxford Road (currently the Crowne Plaza) will bring the Hyatt Regency brand’s signature offer. The 212-room hotel will feature a 120-seat restaurant, bar, club lounge, and a fully equipped 24-hour fitness center. An array of flexible meeting spaces create the perfect backdrop for any occasion, including seven state-of-the-art meeting rooms that can cater to more than 200 delegates.

For travellers looking for an extended visit, Hyatt House Manchester/Oxford Road (currently a Staybridge) will provide a fresh approach for long-term guests looking to continue their work and personal routines while on the road. The hotel will provide its guests with spacious, apartment-style living with a modern, comfortable design to make them feel at home.

“We are proud to be working with Hyatt again to introduce its brands to the global city of Manchester,” said Neil Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer of M&L Hospitality.

M&L Hospitality said in a separate statement: “M&L Hospitality can confirm it has advised IHG and Cycas that its agreements to operate and manage the two hotels within the “The Lume” on Oxford Road Manchester under the brands of Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites will be coming to an end at 11.59pm on 9 January 2020.

“When M&L Hospitality entered into the franchise and management agreements, the building was not yet constructed. What became apparent in the early months of operations is that the hotel needed a new brand that would better complement its unique design and position in the University of Manchester’s Campus. As a result, we made the commercial decision to end the agreements at the appropriate juncture.

“M&L Hospitality is pleased to confirm that an affiliate of Hyatt Hotels Corporation is the new hotel management operator of the 328-room combined Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House hotels, effective from midnight 10 January 2020. The 212-room full-service hotel will become Hyatt Regency Manchester Oxford Road; the 116-room long-stay hotel will become Hyatt House Manchester/Oxford Road.

“M&L Hospitality is confident that the transition to Hyatt will cause no disruption to guests, employees and partners. It has the full co-operation of both hotel operators to ensure a seamless handover and guests remain the top priority.

“The Lume’s employees are employed by M&L Hospitality. There will be no changes to the terms of employment. We are focused on growing The Lume’s business and plans to create more jobs.

“M&L Hospitality has a strong relationship with Hyatt, owning Hyatt Place London Heathrow Airport as well as Hyatt Regency Sydney, Australia’s largest hotel.

“M&L Hospitality appreciates the efforts by IHG and Cycas for their work in Manchester and continues to maintain its strong working relationship with IHG and Cycas. In M&L Hospitality’s current portfolio there are four IHG branded hotels in the UK (Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen Airport; Crowne Plaza Aberdeen Airport; Holiday Inn Stratford City London; and Staybridge Suites Stratford City London) as well as three Cycas managed hotels (Holiday Inn London, Stratford City; Staybridge Suites Stratford City London and Hyatt Place London, Heathrow Airport). ”

An IHG spokesperson commented: “We have a positive relationship with M&L Hospitality, with a number of successful IHG branded properties across their portfolio.

“We are naturally disappointed to see these brand changes but look forward to working with M&L Hospitality to deliver great guest experiences in our other locations.”