Manchester and The Lowry Hotel among world’s best

12th January 2009

Manchester and The Lowry Hotel among world’s best say European conference industry…

Manchester has been named the third-best conference destination in the world by the readers of Conference & Incentive Travel - Europe magazine.

The city was praised for the continued investment in its conference infrastructure and is joined in the top five by London (1st), Barcelona (2nd), Las Vegas (4th) and Berlin/Dubai (joint 5th).

The city has now firmly established itself on the political party conference circuit – playing host to the Labour Party in 2006 and 2008. The Conservative Party is also set to host their annual conference in Manchester in 2009 and 2011.

The Society of American Travel Writers convention in 2007 and the Airports Council International and World Youth & Student Travel Conference, both taking place during 2009, are further proof of Manchester’s status as a world class conference destination.

There was also great news for The Lowry Hotel, whom readers voted the UK’s best venue for service standards. The five-star hotel saw off competition from industry ‘old favourites’ The Four Seasons Hampshire and Gleneagles to take the top spot.

The Lowry Hotel was also voted the fourth best hotel in the UK to hold a conference or event, just behind the bigger venues of Celtic Manor, The Grove and Hilton London Metropole.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “The city’s continued investment in its conference infrastructure has really paid off. For Manchester to be alongside the calibre of such destinations as Barcelona, Las Vegas and Dubai in this list of the world’s top conference destinations is an incredible accomplishment.”

Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, the agency charged with promoting the city on a national and international stage, said: “These two awards show the great strength that Manchester has in the field of business tourism and incentive travel. It is particularly pleasing to see the hard work surrounding such events as the Labour Party conference beginning to pay dividends. The Lowry Hotel winning the best service standards category is also a great credit to the industry in Manchester. Our congratulations to them on this much-deserved award.”

Jason Harding, general manager of The Lowry Hotel, said: “To be voted best hotel in the UK for service standards and the fourth best hotel to host conference and events is a fantastic achievement and a real credit to the hard work and dedication of the whole team here at the hotel.”

For more information about conferences in Manchester, visit: www.manchesterconferences.com For more information about The Lowry Hotel, visit: www.roccofortecollection.com

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Conference & Incentive Travel – Europe is a monthly business magazine covering news and features about incentive travel and conference organisation. It has a circulation of just over 18,400.

Media Contacts:

Trevor Evers, Marketing Manchester Tel: 0161 238 4542   trevor.evers@marketingmanchester.com
Helen Hipkiss, The Lowry Hotel   Tel: 0161 827 4012   hhipkiss@roccofortecollection.com