New hotel for MediaCityUK
Overnight visitors to the UK’s first media city will soon be able to rest their heads at a brand new hotel.
Peel Leisure has signed a franchise agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) for a 218-bed Holiday Inn at MediaCityUK, Salford Quays.
The hotel will open under the new Holiday Inn brand standards, which are currently being rolled out across the world. Due to start operating in autumn 2010, the hotel will be equipped with a bar, restaurant, and meeting rooms, as well as gym facilities.
Designed with a focus on the creative and digital sectors, Phase 1 of MediaCityUK covers more than 36-acres of land alongside the Manchester Ship Canal. The site will be home to one of Europe’s biggest high definition studio facilities, along with a waterfront piazza capable of holding upwards of 5,000 people.
Bryan Gray, Chairman of Peel Media – the owners and developers of MediaCityUK, said: “We’re creating a true city environment here at Salford Quays, and the Holiday Inn will be an important part of the wider MediaCityUK community.”
“With the first residents due to move into their new MediaCityUK apartments in the spring, this latest announcement shows how the development of the city is really gathering momentum.”
The MediaCityUK Holiday Inn will be operated by Peel Leisure, a division of the Peel Group. Peter de la Perrelle, Director of Peel Leisure, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing one of the world’s best-known hotel brands to MediaCityUK.
“Good quality hotel accommodation is an important ingredient of any city and we’re looking forward to providing a warm welcome to both business and leisure guests.”
The Holiday Inn relaunch is the biggest relaunch in the hotel industry with a £600 million investment across more than 3,200 hotels and 430,000 rooms worldwide, due to be completed by 2010.
Andrew Gill, Vice President of Development for IHG, said: “Signing the Holiday Inn Manchester MediaCityUK in such a tough economic climate is testament to the strength of the Holiday Inn brand and the importance of the Holiday Inn relaunch. It’s an ideal location and we’re confident the hotel will be an asset to the development.”
The BBC will move nearly 2,500 staff to MediaCityUK from 2011 onwards, including five departments currently based in London. Earlier this month the corporation was handed the keys to the first of its MediaCityUK buildings, ready for technical fit-out to commence.
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