Self-funded Cow Hollow Hotel owners now looking for investors
The husband-and-wife team behind the newly-opened Cow Hollow Hotel in Manchester’s trendy Northern Quarter say they are now looking for investors to help with their next project – in Spinningfields.
The hotel, completely self-funded by Mujtaba and Amelia Rana, opened in a former textile mill on Newton Street on January 25.
The couple designed and developed the project in the absence of any outside investment or debt and hold 100% ownership of the business.
They say the shared vision behind Cow Hollow was to create a destination ideal for both business and leisure trips, just a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly station and close to the city centre.
The hotel employs 12 members of staff and houses 16 rooms, offering guests both beauty and affordability with set-prices that do not change.
With more than10 years in investment banking, Mujtaba, 32, director, worked at Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse, initially in London before moving to Asia in 2014.
Becoming vice president at the age of 25, he went on to co-manage Credit Suisse’s Equity Research department in Hong Kong.
Amelia, 28, general manager of The Cow Hollow, has seven years of experience within Universal Music, starting out in London before moving to the Hong Kong division, also in 2014.
Returning to the UK in 2017, Mujtaba project managed the completion of the former textile warehouse, overseeing extensive refurbishments to transform it into a bespoke boutique hotel.
Keen to also distinguish Cow Hollow from other hotels in the city, they have introduced a number of services, including an inclusive prosecco hour in the evening, complimentary gourmet breakfast bags, and unlimited hot drinks at the in-house Aviary Cafe.
With the successful business model of Cow Hollow firmly in place, the couple say they are now actively looking for partners to invest in their next project, projected to be a 30-room hotel on the opposite side of Manchester city centre, towards the Spinningfields area.
Mujtaba said: “This project has really been a labour of love for myself and Amelia. We started talking about the possibility of opening a hotel in Manchester back when we were both working in our previous careers, so it is rewarding to see how it’s beautifully it has come together and the great feedback we’re already getting despite just opening.
“We have a innovative and unique business model in place, and we’re now keen to start thinking about our next project and welcome conversations with potential investors.”
