Greater Manchester’s only five-star hotel, The Lowry, is already receiving bookings for Christmas as visitors flood back to the city centre.
General manager Adrian Ellis, in an exclusive interview with BusinessLive, revealed the hotel is half booked today, the first it has been open to the general public this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Ellis said today’s latest restrictions lifting was a “pivotal” move and he was already seeing “encouraging signs”.
“We have been operating during the lockdown as we have been able to welcome sports teams and film and production crews under the guidance.
“Today has been the first time however that we have been able to have the general public back.
“We’re half full at the moment, with 70 bedrooms taken, and the restaurant has good numbers as well.
“This weekend is fully booked though, as is the bank holiday weekend at the end of the month.
“I don’t expect it to get back to 2019 levels straight away but we are on the way for sure.
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“Our corporate, meeting rooms and international business won’t restart really until the end of the year if not the start of 2022 however.”
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The Lowry Hotel has welcomed the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool in recent weeks.
During lockdown the hotel started a programme of refurbishing its hotel rooms, with almost two floors done to date.
“We have been keeping things ticking over and keeping in touch with our staff as well as improving aspects of the hotel where possible”, Mr Ellis added.