The Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford picked up the much-coveted ‘Hotel Top Team of the Year’ award last week at the Manchester Hoteliers Association Annual Awards, whilst two members of the team were recognised individually.
The Manchester Hoteliers Association Awards are a celebration of Manchester’s bustling hospitality scene, capitalising on the city’s growing international stature, and its increasing profile as a centre of excellence for meetings and events. At the same time, the awards recognised the unique achievements of Hilton Garden Inn Emirates Old Trafford, which, on top of completing the expansion project, delivered beyond expectations, both in terms of its business performance and customer satisfaction. The hotel operated at record levels of occupancy (80%, including the new rooms) and revenue, with more guests visiting the hotel than previous years.
The venue, which announced the completion of a £75m investment project, including an extension to 250 state-of-the-art bedrooms, last year, also gained recognition in two other individual categories at the awards.
The hotel has already carved out a unique position in Manchester’s hotel market, with half the rooms offering pitch facing balconies, in what is widely seen as one of the most stunning bedroom views in the city. The additional room space, which complemented the venue’s already highly respected meetings and events business, spurred the businesses positioning as Destination Emirates Old Trafford and supported its contribution of £22.5 million to the local economy, over the course of 2023.
Daniel Gidney, Lancashire Cricket Chief Executive, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of our hotel team at Emirates Old Trafford and what a thoroughly deserving award it is.
“2023 was always going to be the busiest year our Hilton Garden Inn has ever had. Not only did the venue host an Ashes Test Match, Lancashire men’s and women’s teams and The Hundred, two Arctic Monkey concerts and a hugely busy Conference & Event year, we extended the hotel by a further 100 bedrooms and launched a new restaurant, event and hospitality space, The Edge. The hotel extension was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule and, without the great teamwork and spirit that this team possess, we would not have been able to deliver the year that we did. It was a phenomenal effort from the whole team.
“Our off-field business continues to thrive, and the hotel is a hugely important part of that. This year, for the first time in the Club’s 160-year history, the hotel will generate more revenue that Emirates Old Trafford hosting international fixtures.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our hotel staff for their hard work throughout the year, and we look forward to another record year in 2024.”
The award judges also added: “…the team not only operate well as a hotel unity, but as a part of the greater entity of Lancashire Cricket Club. Having to learn new working practices in a hotel that has increased its capacity and hospitality space overnight and hitting the ground running to deliver the additional events they had on, is a testament to their team ethos and attitude.”
As well as the Hotel Top Team of the Year award, The Hilton Garden Inn, Emirates Old Trafford, was also recognised in two individual awards. Caitlin Shaw was awarded a One to Watch Certificate in the Rising Star category, while and Ian Platt was a finalist in the Front of House Customer Service award.
